title: Massachusetts Man Convicted of Violating U.S. Sanctions Against Iran

body_text: BOSTON – A Massachusetts man was convicted yesterday in federal court in Boston following a 14-day jury trial for charges related to a scheme to illegally export sophisticated electronic components from the United States to Iran. Mahdi Mohammad Sadeghi, 43, a dual U.S.-Iranian national of Natick, Mass., was convicted of one count of conspiracy to violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) and the Iranian Transactions and Sanctions Regulations (ITSR) and two counts of violation of the IEEPA and the ITSR. U.S. District Court Judge Indira Talwani scheduled sentencing for Oct. 13, 2026. The defendant was charged by criminal complaint in December 2024 alongside Mohammad Abedininajafabadi, a/k/a Mohammad Abedini (Abedini), of Tehran, Iran, and subsequently indicted by a federal grand jury shortly thereafter. They were charged in a superseding indictment in December 2025. Abedini remains a fugitive. “This defendant exploited his access to sophisticated U.S. technology to help funnel sensitive electronic components to Iran in violation of U.S. sanctions and export control laws. These laws exist to protect our national security by preventing these high-tech components from reaching – and being used by – hostile foreign actors and terrorist organizations. This verdict makes clear that individuals who conspire to evade U.S. sanctions will be held accountable,” said United States Attorney Leah B. Foley. “We will continue working closely with our law enforcement partners to identify, investigate and prosecute those who seek to evade these critical safeguards.” “This guilty verdict demonstrates the National Security Division’s commitment to holding accountable those who violate U.S. sanctions against Iran,” said Assistant Attorney General John A. Eisenberg of the Justice Department's National Security Division. “For years, Sadeghi conspired to and did send sensitive microelectronic parts from the United States to Iran through a company in Europe despite receiving training on U.S. sanctions and export law. The National Security Division will continue to pursue those who, through unlawful export and deception, threaten our national security.” “This verdict should serve as a wake-up call to those in corporate America that if you violate our country’s export laws, you will not get away with it,” said Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division. “Mahdi Mohammad Sadeghi learned this the hard way when he conspired to send electronic components to Iran, one of the world’s most infamous state sponsors of terrorism. There’s no question Mr. Sadeghi put his own personal interests ahead of our country’s best interests. Export laws exist for a reason and that’s to protect our national security, here and abroad. Make no mistake, the FBI will continue to defend the homeland by going after anyone who illegally transfers U.S. technology to our adversaries.” According to court documents, Abedini is the founder and managing director of an Iranian company, San’at Danesh Rahpooyan Aflak Co. (SDRA or SADRA), that manufactures navigation modules used in the IRGC’s military drone program. SDRA’s main business is the sale of a proprietary navigation system—known as the Sepehr Navigation System—to the IRGC, which the United States designated as a foreign terrorist organization (FTO) on April 15, 2019. The primary application of SDRA’s Sepehr Navigation System is for use in Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAVs) – also known as drones – as well as cruise and ballistic missiles. Sadeghi was employed by a Massachusetts-based microelectronics manufacturer (U.S. Company 1). He was also one of the founders of a Massachusetts-based technology company (U.S. Company 2) that specializes in wearable sensors that provide kinetic monitoring for fitness applications. Sadeghi and others conspired to evade U.S. export control and sanctions laws by procuring U.S. origin goods from, U.S. Company 1 and causing them to be exported and supplied to Iran and, in particular, Abedini’s Iranian company, SDRA. In or around 2016, Sadeghi traveled to Iran to request funding for U.S. Company 2 from the Iranian National Elites Foundation (INEF), which is an Iranian governmental organization whose main purpose is to recognize, organize and support Iran’s elite national talents. In exchange for funding for U.S. Company 2, which Sadeghi’s company ultimately received from the INEF, Sadeghi and others created a second company in Iran (Iranian Company 1). Shortly after forming Iranian Company 1, Sadeghi, through Iranian Company 1, entered into a contract with SDRA for the purchase of SDRA’s technology. On multiple occasions beginning in or around 2016, Sadeghi helped Abedini procure U.S. export-controlled electronic components for reexport to Iran. Due to U.S. laws restricting exports to Iran, Abedini established a Switzerland front company for SDRA, Illumove SA (Illumove). With Sadeghi’s assistance, Abedini, through Illumove, entered into a contract with U.S. Company 1 to develop a product to evaluate U.S. Company 1’s electronic components, including accelerometers, gyroscopes and inertial measurement units. Those electronic components were transferred to Iran, through Illumove, for the benefit of SDRA. Certain of the electronic components that Abedini allegedly obtained through Illumove were the same types of electronic components used in SDRA’s Sepehr Navigation System. According to Court documents, Abedini also allegedly provided material support to a foreign terrorist organization, the IRGC Aerospace Force, which is a strategic missile, air and space force. Since at least in or about 2014, SDRA has had multiple projects with the IRGC Aerospace Force, including projects for guided rockets and integrated navigation systems. As alleged, between 2021 and 2022, approximately 99% of SDRA’s sales of the Sepehr Navigation System, which are used in IRGC one-way attack drones, were to the IRGC’s Aerospace Force. On Jan. 28, 2024, three U.S. service members were killed, and more than 40 others were injured, in a drone attack by IRGC-backed militants on a military base located in northern Jordan, known as Tower 22. According to court documents, analysis of the drone that was recovered from the site of the attack showed that the drone was an Iranian Shahed UAV and that the navigation system used in the drone was manufactured by Abedini’s company. The charges of violation of the IEEPA and the ITSR, and conspiracy to do so, each provide for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $1 million fine. 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. Assistant United States Attorneys Jared C. Dolan and Alathea E. Porter of the District of Massachusetts’ National Security Unit are prosecuting the case alongside Trial Attorney Leslie Esbrook of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence & Export Control Section. The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The remaining defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Lynn Man Sentenced for Receiving Stolen Government Money and Making False Statements

component: USAO - Massachusetts

body_text: BOSTON – A Lynn man was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for receiving stolen Social Security benefits and making false statements. James C. Burdulis, 57, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Allison D. Burroughs to one day of prison deemed served, three years of supervised release and was ordered to pay $67,159 in restitution. In April 2026 , Burdulis pleaded guilty to one count of receiving stolen government money or property and one count of false statements. Burdulis was charged on March 26, 2026 . Burdulis received $63,959 in stolen Social Security benefits and $3,200 in COVID economic impact payments (EIP) from June 2019 through June 2025 that were intended for a beneficiary who had died. Prior to the beneficiary’s death in May 2019, Burdulis had been appointed as the beneficiary’s representative payee to manage their Social Security benefits and provide regular accountings to the Social Security Administration (SSA). Between June 2020 and June 2024, Burdulis submitted five fraudulent representative payee reports to the SSA under penalty of perjury in which he stated that he spent money received from the SSA on behalf of the deceased beneficiary after their death. Further, Burdulis submitted a fraudulent verification form to the SSA in September 2020 stating that the deceased beneficiary continued to live at the same location. United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Amy Connelly, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Social Security Administration, Office of the Inspector General, Office of Investigations, Boston Field Division made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney James J. Nagelberg of the Major Crimes Unit prosecuted the case. On March 26, 2026 , United States Attorney Leah B. Foley announced the creation of the Benefit & Voter Fraud Team, a district-wide initiative established in response to the rampant fraud being uncovered across Massachusetts. The Team is led by two senior federal prosecutors serving as Fraud Coordinators, whose mission it is to aggressively investigate and prosecute misuse of taxpayer-funded benefits in Massachusetts. Members of the public are encouraged to report suspected benefit fraud in Massachusetts by calling 1-855-SCAM-MA-1 (855-722-6621). On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement 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.


title: Dominican National Sentenced to 18 Months in Prison for Illegal Reentry

body_text: BOSTON – A Dominican national unlawfully residing in Lawrence was sentenced on July 8, 2026, in federal court in Boston for unlawfully reentering the United States after deportation. Jason Aymar Ramos, 43, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton to a term of 18 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release. The defendant is subject to deportation upon completion of the imposed sentence. In April 2026, Aymar Ramos pleaded guilty to one count of unlawful reentry of a deported alien. Aymar Ramos was indicted by a federal grand jury in 2018. Aymar Ramos was deported from the United States to the Dominican Republic on April 5, 2012. Sometime after his removal, Aymar Ramos illegally reentered the United States without permission. Between 2015 and 2024, Aymar Ramos, using an alias, was convicted in four separate state court drug cases. In October 2025, after completing a two and a half year jail sentence in one of the cases, he was transported to federal court in the illegal reentry case. He has been in federal custody since that time. United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; David T. Wesling, Acting Field Office Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations in Boston; and Lawrence Police Chief Maurice Aguiler made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Suzanne Sullivan Jacobus of the Major Crimes Unit prosecuted the case.


title: Dallas felon sentenced to 15 years in federal prison for attempting to rob Plano Lyft driver at gunpoint

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

body_text: PLANO, Texas –A Dallas convicted felon has been sentenced to 15 years in federal prison for a firearms violation in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs. Antonio Detravion Woodard, Jr., 24, pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm and was sentenced to 180 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Richard Schell on July 13, 2026. According to information presented in court, on January 10, 2025, Woodard called for a Lyft and upon arrival, pulled out a gun and told the Lyft driver, “This is a robbery.” Woodard asked the driver for access to his Cash App and Wallet. Upon inspection, Woodard discovered that the victim driver had no cash. Woodard was upset and demanded the victim, “Not tell the police what happened.” The Lyft driver was able to hit the safety feature in his Lyft app and local law enforcement responded. Further investigation revealed Woodard was a convicted felon and prohibited by federal law from owning or possessing firearms. 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. This case was investigated by the Plano Police Department and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Abe McGlothin, Jr. ##


title: Delco Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Second Child Pornography Conviction

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that Jeffrey Worrilow Jr., 44, of Media, Pennsylvania, was sentenced today to 120 months in prison and 10 years of supervised release by United States District Judge Chad F. Kenney for child pornography offenses. The defendant was also ordered to pay $40,000 in restitution, a $10,000 Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act Assessment, $1,500 Amy, Vicky and Andy Child Pornography Victim Assistance Act Assessment, and $200 special assessment. In addition, Worrilow Jr. is subject to mandatory registration as a sex offender under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (“SORNA”) and Megan’s Law. The defendant was charged by indictment in September 2025 and pleaded guilty this March to two counts of accessing with intent to view child pornography. As detailed in court filings and statements, the FBI, in an undercover operation, took control of a website on the dark web providing child pornography. Investigators identified Worrilow Jr. as being a member of the site for more than a year and determined that he maintained two different accounts, which he used to access the site 27 times and post at least twice. On one occasion when the defendant accessed the website, the FBI captured the IP address used, with subscriber information subsequently leading to the defendant’s home. In March 2025, a federal search warrant was executed at that residence and several devices were seized. Investigators located evidence of child pornography on two devices, including 648 images and 14 videos of child pornography found in the cache of Worrilow’s iPhone and an additional 17 images of child pornography in the phone’s browser. This is the defendant’s second such conviction. In 2008, at the age of 26, Worrilow Jr. was convicted in Delaware County for online child pornography offenses. He was sentenced to 11½ to 23 months of imprisonment and allowed to serve the imprisonment over 24 weekends. 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 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 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 projectsafechildhood.gov . The case was investigated by the FBI, with assistance from the Media Police Department and Upper Providence Township (Delaware Co.) Police Department, and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Brittany Jones.


title: Chester County Man Sentenced to Over Three Years in Prison for Possessing Unregistered Explosive Devices

body_text: PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that Kevin Krebs, 32, of Malvern, Pennsylvania, was sentenced today to 37 months in prison and three years of supervised release by United States District Judge Mary Kay Costello for possessing unregistered explosive devices. The defendant was arrested on a criminal complaint and warrant in October of last year, charged by information in December with one count of possession of an unregistered firearm or destructive device, and pleaded guilty the same month. As detailed in court filings and statements, on June 14, 2025, Krebs was arrested by the West Chester Police Department for carrying a firearm without a license. Two days later, Chester County Detectives executed a state search warrant at Krebs’s residence and discovered what appeared to be an improvised explosive device (“IED”), specifically a pipe bomb, and related materials, in a garage attached to the premises. Bomb technicians responded, examined the device, and determined that it contained nails and screws, which are frequently placed inside IEDs to serve as shrapnel. As the search continued, investigators located multiple additional IEDs, other explosive materials, and related components. The recovered items yielded a total of six destructive devices and 10 improvised explosive detonators. Investigators also recovered eight one-pound orange plastic containers containing suspected ammonium nitrate and aluminum powder, a binary explosive mixture that forms an ammonium nitrate and aluminum explosive when combined and is classified as a regulated explosive. This case was investigated by the Chester County District Attorney’s Office, FBI Philadelphia’s Newtown Square Resident Agency, and the West Chester Police Department, with the assistance of the Montgomery County, FBI, and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives bomb squads, and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Everett Witherell and Frank Menna. The commonwealth’s case against Krebs is still pending.


title: Mexican Illegal Alien Sentenced For Illegal Reentry of a Removed Alien

component: USAO - Louisiana, Eastern

body_text: NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – CANDIO TIERRA BLANCA-QUESADA (“TIERRA BLANCA-QUESADA”) , age 43, a native of Mexico, was sentenced on July 9, 2026, by United States District Judge Eldon E. Fallon, after previously pleading guilty to reentry of a removed alien, in violation of Title 8, United States Code, Section 1326(a), announced U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle. TIERRA BLANCA-QUESADA was sentenced to the imprisonment time he already served, a one-year term of supervised release, and payment of a mandatory $100 special assessment fee. He has been detained in federal prison since January 2, 2026. According to court records, TIERRA BLANCA-QUESADA was previously removed from the United States on three occasions: March 30, 2007; January 5, 2012; and October 28, 2012. TIERRA BLANCA-QUESADA was later found in the Eastern District of Louisiana by an agent of the United States Border Patrol on December 29, 2025, having reentered the United States without authorization from the Attorney General of the United States or the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. U.S. Attorney Courcelle praised the work of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Shannon Kippers is in charge of the prosecution. * * *


title: Harvey Man Charged for Possession of Materials Involving the Sexual Exploitation of Minors

body_text: NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle announced today that MICHAEL CUSIMANO (“CUSIMANO”) , age 59, of Harvey, Louisiana, was charged by bill of information on July 9, 2026, with Possession of Materials Involving the Sexual Exploitation of Minors, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2252(a)(4)(B) and (b)(2). If convicted, CUSIMANO faces a mandatory minimum sentence of ten (10) years and a maximum sentence of twenty (20) years imprisonment, and/or a fine of up to $250,000.00, a term of supervised release of no less than five (5) years and up to life, and a $100.00 mandatory special assessment fee. According to court documents, beginning at an unknown time and until on or about May 27, 2026, CUSIMANO possessed, and attempted to possess, images and videos of pre-pubescent child pornography. CUSIMANO’s home was searched by state law enforcement officials and federal agents on May 27, 2026. CUSIMANO was arrested by federal agents during the execution of the search warrant after finding him in possession of electronic devices and media containing the sexual abuse of prepubescent children. U.S. Attorney Courcelle reiterated that the bill of information is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt. 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 United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov. U.S. Attorney Courcelle praised the work of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The prosecution of this case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Tracey N. Knight of the Financial Crimes Unit. * * *


title: Guatemalan Illegal Alien Guilty of Illegal Reentry of a Removed Alien

body_text: NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – OSEAS AGUILAR-GUZMAN (“AGUILAR-GUZMAN”) , age 38, a native of Guatemala, pleaded guilty to reentry of a removed alien, in violation of Title 8, United States Code, Section 1326(a), announced U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle. His sentencing is set before Chief U.S. District Judge Wendy B. Vitter on October 13, 2026. According to the charging document, AGUILAR-GUZMAN was found in the United States on March 20, 2024, having reentered the United States without authorization from the Attorney General of the United States or the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, after previously being deported on December 4, 2013. AGUILAR-GUZMAN faces up to two years of imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000, up to one year of supervised release, and a mandatory special assessment fee of $100. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. U.S. Attorney Courcelle praised the work of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Shannon Kippers of the General Crimes Unit is in charge of the prosecution. * * *


title: Florida Man Sentenced to 32 Months in Federal Prison for Defrauding Zelle Users

component: USAO - Connecticut

body_text: David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that KUTTINO JAMAL SCOTT, 24, of Miami, Florida, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Michael P. Shea in Hartford to 32 months of imprisonment and three years of supervised release for his role in a scheme that defrauded numerous individuals who used the electronic payments system Zelle. Judge Shea also ordered Scott to perform 125 hours of community service while on supervised release. According to court documents and statements made in court, law enforcement has been investigating crimes against users of digital payment applications, including Zelle. Typically, through this scheme, a victim receives a fraudulent text message, purporting to be from the victim’s bank, asking the victim to confirm whether a Zelle transaction was authorized. When the victim denies the transaction, the victim receives a response that a bank representative will be in contact. The victim then receives a phone call from an individual impersonating a bank representative who informs the victim that an unauthorized transaction has occurred and that they need to work together to reverse the transaction. Without the victim’s knowledge, the fraudsters will link the victim’s actual phone number or email address via Zelle to a bank account that does not belong to the victim. The victim is then instructed to “reverse” the fictional fraudulent transaction by making a Zelle payment to what they believe is their own account, but is, in fact, an account controlled by the fraudsters. From approximately February 2021 through August 2023, Scott and others, including Kader Gahmaal Biwaki Edmond, stole $657,680.79 from approximately 140 victims, including victims in Connecticut, through this Zelle scheme and other fraud schemes. The investigation revealed that Edmond had more direct contact with victims, and Scott managed at least eight “money mules,” individuals who allowed their bank accounts to receive and transfer proceeds of the fraud scheme. Judge Shea ordered Scott to pay full restitution. Scott was arrested on August 31, 2023. On January 13, 2026, he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud. Scott, who is released on a $100,000 bond, is required to report to prison on September 15. Edmond pleaded guilty to the same charge and, on August 19, 2024, was sentenced to three years of imprisonment. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward Chang with the assistance of Law Student Intern Lucas Alexander. Victims can report Zelle fraud to their bank or credit union, or to the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3), which is run by the FBI and serves as the country’s hub for reporting cybercrime, at www.ic3.gov .


title: Orange County-Based Towing Company Settles Justice Department Lawsuit Alleging It Illegally Auctioned Servicemembers’ Vehicles

component: USAO - California, Central

body_text: SANTA ANA, California – The Justice Department announced today that S&K Towing Inc., a San Clemente-based towing company, has agreed to pay $160,000 to resolve a lawsuit alleging that it violated the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) by illegally auctioning motor vehicles owned by members of the military. “For far too long, tow companies have sold or disposed of servicemembers’ vehicles in violation of federal law,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “This settlement sends a strong message that all towing companies must recognize servicemembers’ rights and take the necessary steps to comply with the SCRA.” “Members of the U.S. Armed Forces have a legal right to be protected while they serve our nation overseas,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli. “This settlement will provide compensation to impacted service members and serves as notice to all businesses to comply with federal laws that protect our military.” The Department’s lawsuit, which was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California on March 25, alleges that S&K Towing illegally sold or disposed of as many as 148 vehicles owned by servicemembers, many of which it towed from Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton. Even though S&K’s contract with Camp Pendleton required it to comply with all applicable federal and state laws, the company made no effort to comply with the SCRA, which requires tow companies to obtain a court order before selling or disposing of a vehicle owned by an SCRA-protected servicemember. In May 2024, a Military Legal Assistance attorney contacted S&K Towing and explained that the company was violating the SCRA. In response, a manager at S&K Towing told the attorney, “We do this all the time.” After this exchange, S&K Towing continued to sell and dispose of vehicles owned by SCRA-protected servicemembers without obtaining court orders. Some of the vehicles S&K sold or disposed of were registered to addresses on Camp Pendleton. In other cases, S&K auctioned vehicles even after they were told that the owner was in the military. Pursuant to the settlement agreement, S&K Towing will pay $160,000 to servicemembers who were harmed by the company’s conduct. While the company is in the process of shutting down its operations, it has agreed that if it engages in or reenters the business of towing or storing vehicles, it will adopt policies and procedures to comply with the SCRA. Assistant United States Attorney Katherine M. Hikida of the Civil Division represented the United States in this matter along with attorneys from the Justice Department’s Housing and Civil Enforcement Section. Since 2011, the Department has obtained over $489 million in monetary relief for more than 152,000 servicemembers through its enforcement of the SCRA. For more information about the Department’s SCRA enforcement efforts, please visit www.servicemembers.gov . Servicemembers and their dependents who believe that their rights under the SCRA may have been violated should contact the nearest Armed Forces Legal Assistance Program Office. Office locations can be found at legalassistance.law.af.mil .


title: Trade Fraud Task Force Surpasses $1 Billion in Recoveries and Charged Losses in Less Than One Year

component: National Fraud Enforcement Division

body_text: The Department of Justice announced today that the Trade Fraud Task Force (TFTF), launched in August 2025 , with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has surpassed $1 billion in civil and criminal recoveries, penalties, forfeitures, and publicly charged losses in less than one year This milestone reflects a fundamental shift in the federal government’s approach to customs and trade enforcement, emphasizing rigorous criminal prosecution and civil enforcement under the False Claims Act (FCA). “For too long, fraud actors have viewed customs violations as a mere surcharge or cost of doing business,” said Assistant Attorney General Colin McDonald of the Justice Department’s National Fraud Enforcement Division. “By utilizing the Department’s full weight, we are making it clear that trade fraud is a serious economic crime. This billion-dollar milestone demonstrates that the United States and the National Fraud Enforcement Division will no longer allow the integrity of our country’s borders and markets to be compromised for illicit profit. This message should be heard loud and clear by all supply-chain actors.” The TFTF was established by DOJ and DHS to investigate and prosecute those who defraud the government through material misrepresentations to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), including transshipment, mislabeling, and false declaration. Its mandate covers the entire supply chain, including importers, customs brokers, downstream distributors, industrial and commercial end-users, and other supply-chain actors who knowingly profit from merchandise imported contrary to law. Although the TFTF maintains broad enforcement authority, the task force focuses on key revenue and enforcement priorities, including the evasion of Section 301 tariffs, antidumping duties (AD), and countervailing duties (CVD), the eradication of forced labor from global supply chains that seek to exploit U.S. markets, and the prosecution of criminal violations concerning imported goods that threaten public health and safety. By prioritizing clear, high-impact enforcement actions within established legal frameworks, the TFTF ensures swift accountability and a level playing field for law-abiding American businesses. “Ensuring that the global supply chain remains a level playing field for law-abiding American businesses is a critical component of CBP’s mission,” said U.S. Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Rodney S. Scott. “By pairing CBP’s operational reach with DOJ’s prosecutorial authority, we are dismantling the networks that seek to bypass our laws and undermine our economic security. Every day, CBP confronts criminal networks that exploit our supply chains, endanger American families with unsafe goods, threaten the integrity of our consumer and industrial markets, and undermine confidence in international commerce. Our message is clear: those who seek to exploit America’s trade system will be identified, investigated, and brought to justice.” “Through the Trade Fraud Task Force, Homeland Security Investigations is actively protecting American families and businesses from the dangers and consequences of illegal trade practices,” said Homeland Security Investigations Acting Executive Associate Director John A. Condon. “HSI combines investigative expertise and global partnerships to confront criminal networks that threaten fair trade and the security of our nation’s economic interests. By holding offenders accountable, we build trust in the products people rely on every day and support a fair marketplace for honest businesses.” U.S. ATTORNEY’S OFFICE ANNOUNCES CHARGES IN TWO SIGNIFICANT CHICAGO TRADE FRAUD CASES The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Illinois (NDIL) today announced charges against multiple defendants in significant customs duty evasion schemes involving the false declaration of countries of origin for gold jewelry. The Trade Fraud Task Force (TFTF) has selected NDIL as its lead prosecutorial partner. These Chicago cases contributed to the TFTF surpassing the $1 billion milestone in enforced trade fraud matters. Raj Kohli and Veena Kohli, who operate Surya International, Inc., a gold jewelry importer and wholesaler in South San Francisco, California, were charged in U.S. District Court in Chicago with falsely declaring that the gold jewelry they imported into the United States had originated in Singapore and not its true country of origin—India and United Arab Emirates. The charges allege that from approximately August 2020 through May 2024, the company, together with foreign manufacturers and other United States entities, imported and brought into the United States approximately 563 separate entries of gold jewelry that were falsely declared as having been manufactured in Singapore and in doing so avoided paying customs duties of between 5.5% and 5.8% of the declared value of the imported gold jewelry. The gold jewelry had an estimated total value of more than approximately $693 million, thus causing the avoidance of more than approximately $38 million in United States customs duties. Separately, Narain Gulabani who owned and operated Barkha Wholesale, Inc., a gold jewelry importer and wholesaler in Naperville, Illinois, was charged in U.S. District Court in Chicago with falsely declaring the country of origin for imported gold jewelry. The charges allege that, from approximately May 2016 and October 2021, Gulabani, together with foreign manufacturers and other United States entities, imported or caused to be imported into the United States approximately 242 separate entries of gold jewelry that were falsely declared as having been manufactured in Oman or Singapore and in doing so avoided paying customs duties of between 5.5% and 5.8% of the declared value of the imported gold jewelry. The gold jewelry had an estimated total value of more than approximately $240 million, thus causing the avoidance of more than approximately $13.6 million in United States customs duties. These charges are part of a broader federal effort to combat trade fraud schemes that undermine fair competition, harm domestic industries, deprive the United States of substantial revenue, and ultimately hurt the American taxpayer. Gold jewelry and objects seized by law enforcement in May 2022. CRIMINAL AND CIVIL ENFORCEMENT The TFTF has a nationwide mandate to investigate and prosecute trade fraud and related cases, from coast-to-coast. Any offense involving the importation of an object may be inquired of and prosecuted in any district from, through, or into which the imported object moves. Moreover, federal law criminalizes down-chain activities involving merchandise entered contrary to law when done with knowledge of the illegal entry. As a result, the port of entry is only the starting point for these actions, which may also be prosecuted in the district that feels the impact of the trade fraud. The TFTF has secured major victories across a diverse range of industries. Recent high-impact matters include: Perfectus Aluminum (May 12, 2026) (CDCA): S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI)-led criminal investigation resulted in the collection of $549.5 million through a FCA settlement concerning massive scheme to evade antidumping and countervailing duties on aluminum extrusions. Boise Cascade (April 27, 2026) (SDFL): HSI-led criminal investigation resulted in a $6.3 million fine and guilty plea for Lacey Act violations where the company demonstrated willful blindness toward illegally imported birch plywood. Ceratizit USA (December 18, 2025) (EDMI): $54 million FCA settlement to resolve allegations of knowingly failing to pay duties on tungsten carbide products imported from China. Royal Sovereign (April 28, 2026) (DNJ): $8 million criminal fine and restitution ordered after failure to report to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission dangerously defective imported air conditioners allegedly linked to more than 40 fires and one death. MGI International (December 12, 2025) (DNH): HSI-led criminal investigation leading to resolutions against a global plastic resin distributor and its former executive concerning misrepresentations of the goods’ country of origin to avoid paying Section 301 duties. CBP ENFORCEMENT In addition to the civil and criminal enforcement efforts that led to this historic milestone, CBP continues to exercise its enforcement authorities to address trade violations. So far this Fiscal Year, CBP has assessed more than $2.1 billion in commercial trade penalties and debarred 35 parties from doing business with the federal government. These actions complement DOJ’s enforcement mechanisms and strengthen CBP’s mission to protect our national and economic security by preventing fraud, waste, and abuse. THE TRADE FRAUD RESOURCE GUIDE The DOJ and the DHS today released A Resource Guide to Trade Fraud Enforcement (the Guide). As the first joint comprehensive framework of its kind, the Guide is a historic and seminal roadmap for cross-border compliance and enforcement priorities. The Guide provides critical information to enterprises of all sizes and addresses a wide variety of topics, including who and what is covered by customs regulations and anti-trade fraud laws and the different types of civil and criminal resolutions available in trade fraud enforcement. On these and other topics, the Guide takes a multi-faceted approach toward setting forth the statutory and regulatory requirements and providing insights into the enforcement practices of the DOJ and DHS. Since January 2025, the Department has brought trade fraud enforcement actions all over the country as shown in the map below: “When companies commit trade fraud, the prosperity and safety of American workers, families, and communities are put at risk,” said the DHS Assistant Secretary for Trade and Economic Security, Aris Kourkoumelis. “To level the playing field and protect the American people, DOJ and DHS have forged the Trade Fraud Task Force and have produced this Resource Guide which provides the private sector with a transparent, comprehensive manual on trade fraud enforcement.” GLOBAL TRADE & COMMERCE ENFORCEMENT SECTION The Department is announcing the creation of the Global Trade & Commerce Enforcement Section (GTCES) within the National Fraud Enforcement Division. The GTCES’s mission is to investigate and prosecute criminal import, trade, and other fraud offenses that undermine American industries, evade external revenue collection, threaten consumers’ health and safety, finance foreign adversaries, promote forced labor through illegal trade practices, and violate United States laws and regulations governing domestic and foreign commerce. A FOUNDATION OF PARTNERSHIP The success of the GTCES and TFTF is built upon unprecedented cooperation between Main Justice, U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, and law enforcement partners. “It has been a tremendous honor to work closely with the Department and its leadership to envision what the Trade Fraud Task Force could be, and then to convert concept into reality,” said U.S. Attorney Andrew S. Boutros of the Northern District of Illinois. “Helping stand up the Task Force from the ground up has been a vision of mine for nearly 20 years, dating back to when I was a federal prosecutor in Chicago bringing what has still stood as the largest criminal trade fraud cases of their kind and doing so against a stacked deck. It is deeply satisfying to know that we were decades ahead of our time and that our strategy from years ago has now been adopted at the highest levels of the Department and is being implemented across the whole of government. It is a great privilege and responsibility for the Northern District of Illinois to be selected as lead prosecutorial partner for the Trade Fraud Task Force. With our expansive venue and my decades of experience in this space, the Chicago U.S. Attorney’s Office intends to be the tip of the spear when it comes to robust and vigorous enforcement of our nation’s trade, forced labor, and other related laws. There should be no doubt, the key roads for trade fraud enforcement lead from, to, and through Chicago past, present, and future.” The Department extends its gratitude to the 35 TFTF masthead U.S. Attorneys’ Offices: District of Arizona, Eastern District of Arkansas, Northern District of California, Central District of California, Eastern District of California, Southern District of California, District of Colorado, District of Columbia, Southern District of Florida, Northern District of Georgia, Central District of Illinois, Northern District of Illinois, Southern District of Illinois, Northern District of Indiana, Southern District of Indiana, District of Maryland, District of Massachusetts, Eastern District of Michigan, Western District of Missouri, District of Nebraska, District of New Jersey, District of New Mexico, Eastern District of New York, Southern District of New York, Middle District of North Carolina, District of Oregon, Eastern District of Pennsylvania, District of Puerto Rico, Middle District of Tennessee, Western District of Tennessee, Northern District of Texas, Southern District of Texas, Eastern District of Virigina, Eastern District of Wisconsin, and Western District of Wisconsin. The Task Force also acknowledges the indispensable contributions of its law enforcement and agency partners, including CBP, HSI, IRS Criminal Investigation, the Environmental Protection Agency’s Criminal Investigation Division, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Consumer Product Safety Commission, and the Food and Drug Administration. The Department-wide Corporate Enforcement Policy provides concrete benefits to incentivize companies to voluntarily disclose discovered misconduct, cooperate with our investigations, and timely and appropriately remediate the wrongdoing. The Justice Department encourages whistleblowers to alert the government to credible allegations of fraud, including utilizing the qui tam provisions of the False Claims Act or through the Department’s Corporate Whistleblower Program at CorporateWhistleblower@usdoj.gov using the form available here .


title: Three Russian Nationals and Two Companies Indicted for International Cybercrimes Resulting in More Than $62M in Victim Losses

component: Office of the Attorney General

body_text: An indictment was unsealed today in the Northern District of Ohio charging three Russian nationals and two related “bulletproof hosting” companies for their roles in cybercrimes against U.S. victims, causing tens of millions of dollars in losses. The indictment, returned in December 2024, charges the following defendants with conspiracy to commit and aid and abet computer fraud, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering: Alexander Alexandrovich Volosovik, 43, of St. Petersburg, Russia; Kirill Andreevich Zatolokin, 34, of St. Petersburg, Russia; Yulia Vladimirovna Pankova, 29, of St. Petersburg, Russia; Medialand LLC, headquartered in St. Petersburg, Russia; and ML.Cloud LLC, headquartered in St. Petersburg, Russia In addition to the unsealing of the indictment, the U.S. Department of State’s Rewards for Justice (RFJ) program announced today that it is offering a reward of up to $10 million and possible relocation for actionable information on foreign government-linked associates of Pankova, Volosovik and Zatolokin, their malicious cyber activities, or foreign government-linked use of Media Land or ML.Cloud. U.S. sanctions were announced in November 2025 against the indicted defendants and companies. “From their overseas haven, these defendants ran the criminal infrastructure that powered attacks on critical institutions across our nation,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Their actions put the American public at risk. We will continue to dismantle these networks and protect our critical infrastructure from cybercriminals at home and abroad.” “The victims in this case are not only in Ohio, but also in 20 other states across the country, touching every aspect of Americans’ lives. They include banks, schools, government entities, hospitals, and media companies,” said U.S. Attorney David M. Toepfer for the Northern District of Ohio. “Together with our international partners, we will aggressively combat the efforts of individuals who hide behind computers anywhere in the world who seek to profit and wreak havoc by targeting the infrastructures that support our communities.” “With today’s actions, the FBI and our partners are striking at the core services that cybercriminals rely on to attack U.S. critical infrastructure,” said Assistant Director Brett Leatherman of FBI Cyber Division. “Media Land has enabled malicious activity causing tens of millions in losses and impacting victims across 21 states and multiple countries. This is another step in our broader campaign to shrink the space in which these actors can operate, forcing them to work harder, take greater risks, and lose the anonymity they depend on.” “Today’s announcement underscores the importance of global partnerships and international collaboration, especially in a borderless world riddled with cyber criminals,” said Special Agent in Charge Josh DelManzo of the FBI Cleveland Field Office. “The methods used by these bad actors, including ransomware, malware, phishing and other cyber activity, serves as a reminder that whether for business or personal use, when you are online, criminal networks will stop at nothing to hack, attack, share, or sell your information for their own greed, gain, and profit. The FBI and its partners will continue to identify and cripple criminal networks and freeze their infrastructures to reduce or remove the threats to the public and further protect trusting individuals and companies.” “The Department of State is committed to countering malicious cyber activities that threaten U.S. critical infrastructure and our national security,” said Deputy Assistant Secretary and Assistant Director of the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service for Cyber & Technology Security Gharun Lacy. “We remain relentless in our efforts to generate information that helps our law enforcement partners disrupt campaigns against our national interest and bring these malicious cyber actors to justice.” According to allegations in court documents, Medialand LLC (owned by Volosovik) and ML.Cloud (at the time of investigation and indictment, owned by Pankova) were both based in St. Petersburg, Russia, and provided infrastructure including computer servers and related internet services. Medialand’s infrastructure also operated out of multiple countries including China, Finland, the Netherlands, and the United States. These businesses provided what are known as “bulletproof hosting” services for client users to not only conduct criminal activities, but also to evade detection by law enforcement. Such businesses knowingly and intentionally market and/or lease their infrastructure to cybercriminals. According to the indictment, Volosovik advertised their services on criminal forums, touting features and services advantageous to cybercriminals. Medialand and ML.Cloud provided criminal client co-conspirators with the means to infect victim computers with malware and ransomware and then extort those victims for money and cryptocurrency. Other computer-based crimes facilitated by Medialand and ML.Cloud included supporting criminal marketplaces, registering fraudulent domain, and providing a platform from which to launch phishing and brute-force attacks. According to the indictment, 42 victims in 21 states were targeted by criminal groups who used Medialand’s and ML.Cloud’s services. The November 2025 Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctions against the named defendants and entities were joined in full by the United Kingdom’s Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office and in part by Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade . The OFAC sanctions block all U.S. property and prohibit transactions by U.S. persons. Volosovik, Zatolokin and Pankova were individually sanctioned. Medialand and its subsidiaries Media Land Technology (MLT) and Data Center Kirishi (DC Kirishi) along with Medialand’s sister company, ML Cloud were also sanctioned. The criminal investigation is being led by the FBI Cleveland Division, with the assistance of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), and OFAC. Valuable assistance was provided by the National Police of the Netherlands, the Public Prosecutor’s Office of the Netherlands, the United Kingdom’s National Crime Agency, the United Kingdom Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office, the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and Australian Federal Police. Trial Attorney Christen Gallagher of the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section (CCIPS) and Assistant U.S. Attorney Duncan T. Brown for the Northern District of Ohio are prosecuting the case. CCIPS investigates and prosecutes cybercrime and intellectual property (IP) crime in coordination with domestic and international law enforcement agencies, often with assistance from the private sector. Since 2020, CCIPS has secured the conviction of over 180 cyber and IP criminals and court orders for the return of over $350 million in victim funds. This action is part of Operation Riptide, an ongoing FBI campaign targeting the criminal actors, infrastructure, and financial networks behind cybercrime, cyber-enabled crime, and fraud against the American people. Last year, Americans reported over $20 billion in losses to cybercrime, a 26 percent single-year increase. Operation Riptide is the FBI’s sustained enforcement response to that threat. Anyone with information should contact Rewards for Justice via its Tor-based tips-reporting channel at: he5dybnt7sr6cm32xt77pazmtm65flqy6irivtflruqfc5ep7eiodiad.onion (Tor browser required). An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Pharmacy Owner and Technician Sentenced for Falsifying Audit Documents and Submitting Fraudulent Claims

body_text: The owner of a pharmacy and a pharmacy technician were sentenced today for their roles in a scheme that involved submitting fraudulent claims and materially false documents to health care benefit programs. According to court documents and statements made in court, Kirtan S. Patel, 34, of Allentown, New Jersey, and a lawful permanent resident originally from India, owned a pharmacy in Jersey City, New Jersey. In November 2020, Patel caused falsified documents to be submitted to a health insurance company in response to an audit. These documents falsely represented that medical providers had authorized certain prescriptions when they had not. Patel also submitted fraudulent prescription pick-up records that falsely represented that certain customers of the pharmacy had picked up prescriptions when they had not. During the scheme, Patel sent text messages to a friend describing how Patel “bill[ed] around 8-10k every month to [his own] insurance” and did not “take any medications so that’s basically free money[.]” Patel also described how he plied doctors with trips to “strip clubs,” “night clubs,” and “cash” to keep them “as corrupt as possible.” In total, Patel caused over $620,000 in losses to health insurance companies. Patel was sentenced to 30 months in prison and ordered to pay over $620,000 in restitution and $620,000 in forfeiture. According to court documents and statements made in in court, Christopher Lugo, 36, of Jersey City, New Jersey, was a pharmacy technician at the pharmacy owned by Patel. In January 2020, Lugo submitted, or caused the submission of, a fraudulent claim to his own health insurer for a drug that he was not prescribed and was not dispensed. In total, Lugo caused over $565,000 in losses to health insurance companies and Medicare. Lugo was sentenced to 24 months in prison and ordered to pay over $565,000 in restitution. In April 2025, Patel pleaded guilty to making false statements relating to health care matters, and Lugo pleaded guilty to health care fraud. Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald of the Justice Department’s National Fraud Enforcement Division; Special Agent in Charge Stefanie Roddie of the FBI Newark Field Office; Special Agent in Charge Naomi Gruchacz of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General’s (HHS-OIG) New York Regional Office; and Acting Special Agent in Charge Spiros Karabinas of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) made the announcement. FBI, HHS-OIG, and HSI investigated the case. Trial Attorneys Nicholas K. Peone and Paul J. Koob of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section prosecuted the case. On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (Fraud Division). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs. The Fraud Section leads the Criminal Division’s efforts to combat health care fraud through the Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program. Since March 2007, this program, currently comprised of nine strike forces operating in federal districts across the country, has charged more than 6,200 defendants who collectively billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $45 billion. In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with the Office of the Inspector General for the Department of Health and Human Services, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit.


body_text: A Massachusetts man was convicted yesterday in federal court in Boston following a 14-day jury trial for charges related to a scheme to illegally export sophisticated electronic components from the United States to Iran. Mahdi Mohammad Sadeghi, 43, a dual U.S.-Iranian national of Natick, Massachusetts, was convicted of one count of conspiracy to violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) and the Iranian Transactions and Sanctions Regulations (ITSR); and two counts of violation of the IEEPA and the ITSR. U.S. District Court Judge Indira Talwani scheduled sentencing for Oct. 13. The defendant was charged by criminal complaint in December 2024 alongside Mohammad Abedininajafabadi, also known as Mohammad Abedini (Abedini), of Tehran, Iran, and subsequently indicted by a federal grand jury shortly thereafter. They were again charged in a superseding indictment in December 2025. Abedini remains a fugitive in wanted status. “This guilty verdict demonstrates the National Security Division’s commitment to holding accountable those who violate U.S. sanctions against Iran,” said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg. “For years, Sadeghi conspired to and did send sensitive microelectronic parts from the United States to Iran through a company in Europe despite receiving training on U.S. sanctions and export law. The National Security Division will continue to pursue those who, through unlawful export and deception, threaten our national security.” “This defendant exploited his access to sophisticated U.S. technology to help funnel sensitive electronic components to Iran in violation of U.S. sanctions and export control laws. These laws exist to protect our national security by preventing these high-tech components from reaching – and being used by – hostile foreign actors and terrorist organizations. This verdict makes clear that individuals who conspire to evade U.S. sanctions will be held accountable,” said U.S. Attorney Leah B. Foley for the District of Massachusetts. “We will continue working closely with our law enforcement partners to identify, investigate and prosecute those who seek to evade these critical safeguards.” “By illegally exporting sophisticated American technology to Iran, Sadeghi violated U.S. laws and endangered national security,” said Assistant Director Roman Rozhavsky of the FBI Counterintelligence and Espionage Division. “This conviction holds him accountable. The FBI and our partners are committed to using all our resources to bring to justice anyone who helps our adversaries.” “This verdict should serve as a wake-up call to those in corporate America that if you violate our country’s export laws, you will not get away with it,” said Special Agent in Charge Ted E. Docks of the FBI Boston Field Office. “Mahdi Mohammad Sadeghi learned this the hard way when he conspired to send electronic components to Iran, one of the world’s most infamous state sponsors of terrorism. There’s no question Mr. Sadeghi put his own personal interests ahead of our country’s best interests. Export laws exist for a reason and that’s to protect our national security, here and abroad. Make no mistake, the FBI will continue to defend the homeland by going after anyone who illegally transfers U.S. technology to our adversaries.” According to court documents, Abedini is the founder and managing director of an Iranian company, San’at Danesh Rahpooyan Aflak Co. (SDRA or SADRA), that manufactures navigation modules used in the IRGC’s military drone program. SDRA’s main business is the sale of a proprietary navigation system—known as the Sepehr Navigation System—to the IRGC, which the United States designated as a foreign terrorist organization (FTO) on April 15, 2019. The primary application of SDRA’s Sepehr Navigation System is for use in Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAVs) – also known as drones – as well as cruise and ballistic missiles. Sadeghi was employed by a Massachusetts-based microelectronics manufacturer (U.S. Company 1) and was one of the founders of a Massachusetts-based technology company (U.S. Company 2) that specializes in wearable sensors that provide kinetic monitoring for fitness applications. Sadeghi and, allegedly, Abedini and others conspired to evade U.S. export control and sanctions laws by procuring U.S. origin goods from, U.S. Company 1 and causing them to be exported and supplied to Iran and, in particular, Abedini’s Iranian company, SDRA. In or around 2016, Sadeghi traveled to Iran to request funding for U.S. Company 2 from the Iranian National Elites Foundation (INEF), which is an Iranian governmental organization whose main purpose is to recognize, organize and support Iran’s elite national talents. In exchange for funding for U.S. Company 2, which Sadeghi’s company ultimately received from the INEF, Sadeghi and others created a second company in Iran (Iranian Company 1). Shortly after forming Iranian Company 1, Sadeghi, through Iranian Company 1, entered into a contract with SDRA for the purchase of SDRA’s technology. On multiple occasions beginning in or around 2016, Sadeghi helped Abedini procure U.S. export-controlled electronic components for reexport to Iran. Due to U.S. laws restricting exports to Iran, Abedini established a Switzerland front company for SDRA, Illumove SA (Illumove). According to court documents, with Sadeghi’s assistance, Abedini, through Illumove, entered into a contract with U.S. Company 1 to develop a product to evaluate U.S. Company 1’s electronic components, including sophisticated semiconductors. Sadeghi caused U.S.-origin goods to be transferred to Iran, through Illumove, for the benefit of SDRA, including accelerometers, gyroscopes, and inertial measurement units. Certain of the electronic components that Abedini allegedly obtained through Illumove were the same types of electronic components used in SDRA’s Sepehr Navigation System. Abedini also allegedly provided material support to a foreign terrorist organization, the IRGC Aerospace Force, which is a strategic missile, air and space force. Since at least in or about 2014, SDRA has had multiple projects with the IRGC Aerospace Force, including projects for guided rockets and integrated navigation systems. As alleged, between 2021 and 2022, approximately 99% of SDRA’s sales of the Sepehr Navigation System, which are used in IRGC one-way attack drones, were to the IRGC’s Aerospace Force. On Jan. 28, 2024, three U.S. service members were killed, and more than 40 others were injured, in a drone attack by IRGC-backed militants on a military base located in northern Jordan, known as Tower 22. According to court documents, analysis of the drone that was recovered from the site of the attack showed that the drone was an Iranian Shahed UAV and that the navigation system used in the drone was manufactured by Abedini’s company. The charges of violation of the IEEPA and the ITSR, and conspiracy to do so, each provide for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $1 million fine. 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. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jared C. Dolan and Alathea E. Porter of the District of Massachusetts’ National Security Unit; Trial Attorney Leslie Esbrook of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section, are prosecuting the case. The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The remaining defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Louisiana Man Charged with Murder of a Federal Officer After Standoff with Federal and State Law Enforcement

body_text: Yesterday, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Louisiana charged Clarence A. Frazier Jr., 48 of Alexandria, Louisiana by criminal complaint with the murder of Deputy U.S. Marshal Drew Hanson who was working with other law enforcement to apprehend Frazier after he failed to appear for trial on a state charge of sexual battery. If convicted, Frazier faces a maximum sentence of life in prison or death. “U.S. Marshals risk their lives every day - securing our courts, protecting our communities, and working shoulder-to-shoulder with local law enforcement to bring dangerous fugitives to justice. Deputy U.S. Marshal Drew Hanson embodied that courage and dedication,” said Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche. “Tragically, the defendant's alleged actions claimed the life of a dedicated law enforcement officer who was simply doing his duty. The alleged perpetrator is now in custody and will be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law. Our thoughts and prayers are with Deputy Marshal Hanson's family and the entire law enforcement community mourning his loss. Drew paid the ultimate price while protecting our communities. His sacrifice will never be forgotten, and his service will forever stand as an inspiration to all who wear the badge.” “Our men and women put their lives on the line every day to apprehend the country’s most dangerous criminals,” said Director Gadyaces Serralta of the U.S. Marshals Service. “When a Deputy U.S. Marshal is killed in the line of duty serving an arrest warrant on a violent fugitive, this agency and, indeed the entire country mourn that loss. While we are all profoundly heartbroken by Drew Hanson’s tragic death, we are at the same time grateful for his unselfish devotion to protecting his community and those he loved.” “Our Office joins all of our Western District community and the Department of Justice in mourning and honoring the loss of this Deputy Marshal — a man who was a father, a husband, a son, and a child of God — as someone who paid the ultimate price in service of our community’s safety,” said U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Keller for the Western District of Louisiana. “This investigation is ongoing and a criminal complaint is only an allegation, but our office looks forward to working alongside our federal and state law enforcement partners to ensure that justice is done and that accountability reflects the enormity of the loss our community grieves today.” “The FBI offers our deepest condolences to the family of Deputy U.S. Marshal Hanson, who was killed in the line of duty while doing his job pursuing a subject wanted for violent crime” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “We will commit our full force of resources to conduct a thorough investigation with our partners at the Rapides Parish Sheriff's Office and the Department of Justice to ensure the individual responsible for this horrific act is brought to justice. The FBI sends our prayers to Deputy Hanson’s family, friends, and our partners at the U.S. Marshal’s service." According to court documents, law enforcement from the Rapides Parish Sheriff’s Office (RPSO) and the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) secured an arrest warrant for Frazier on July 13 in connection with his failure to appear in state court to face trial on a charge of Sexual Battery with a Person with Infirmities. RPSO and USMS personnel located Frazier at his residence and obtained a search warrant for the residence before attempting to approach Frazier. The officers then approached Frazier’s residence while bearing clear law enforcement markings to execute the warrant, announced their presence, and forced entry into the residence. Officers then found Frazier in his bedroom, where he barricaded himself and shot at the officers, striking a Deputy United States Marshal who later succumbed to his injuries. Frazier then engaged in a further standoff with law enforcement in his bedroom until he was taken into custody. The FBI is investigating the case with assistance from RPSO. Assistant U.S. Attorney John W. Nickel for the Western District of Louisiana is prosecuting the case with assistance from Paralegal Specialist Joanne Henry-Mills. A criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Justice Department Settles with California Towing Company for Illegally Auctioning Servicemembers’ Vehicles

component: Civil Rights Division

body_text: The Justice Department announced today that S & K Towing Inc., a towing company based in San Clemente, California, has agreed to pay $160,000 to resolve a lawsuit alleging that it violated the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) by illegally auctioning motor vehicles owned by members of the military. “For far too long, tow companies have sold or disposed of servicemembers’ vehicles in violation of federal law,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “This settlement sends a strong message that all towing companies must recognize servicemembers’ rights and take the necessary steps to comply with the SCRA.” “Members of the U.S. Armed Forces have a legal right to be protected while they serve our nation overseas,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli for the Central District of California. “This settlement will provide compensation to impacted service members and serves as notice to all businesses to comply with federal laws that protect our military.” The Department’s lawsuit, which was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California on March 25, alleges that S & K Towing illegally sold or disposed of as many as 148 vehicles owned by servicemembers, many of which it towed from Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton. Even though S & K’s contract with Camp Pendleton required it to comply with all applicable federal and state laws, the company made no effort to comply with the SCRA, which requires tow companies to obtain a court order before selling or disposing of a vehicle owned by an SCRA-protected servicemember. In May 2024, a Military Legal Assistance attorney contacted S & K Towing and explained that the company was violating the SCRA. In response, a manager at S & K Towing told the attorney, “We do this all the time.” After this exchange, S & K Towing continued to sell and dispose of vehicles owned by SCRA-protected servicemembers without obtaining court orders. Some of the vehicles S & K sold or disposed of were registered to addresses on Camp Pendleton. In other cases, S & K auctioned vehicles even after they were told that the owner was in the military. Pursuant to the settlement agreement, S & K Towing will pay $160,000 to servicemembers who were harmed by the company’s conduct. While the company is in the process of shutting down its operations, it has agreed that if it engages in or reenters the business of towing or storing vehicles, it will adopt policies and procedures to comply with the SCRA. Since 2011, the Department has obtained over $489 million in monetary relief for over 152,000 servicemembers through its enforcement of the SCRA. For more information about the Department’s SCRA enforcement efforts, please visit www.servicemembers.gov . Servicemembers and their dependents who believe that their rights under the SCRA may have been violated should contact the nearest Armed Forces Legal Assistance Program Office. Office locations can be found at legalassistance.law.af.mil


title: Court Orders Continued Access for USDA to Inspect Iowa Dog Breeder’s Facility Following Seizure of 32 Dogs

component: Energy and Natural Resources Division

body_text: Last week, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Iowa issued a preliminary injunction against Wuanita Swedlund, a dog breeder, based on claims that she has repeatedly failed to grant Department of Agriculture (USDA) officials access to inspect her facility, animals, and records in violation of the Animal Welfare Act (AWA). This preliminary injunction follows a temporary restraining order (TRO) based on the same claims that led to the seizure of 32 dogs by Iowa law enforcement. Photo of a dog at Swedlund’s facility, from USDA’s inspection report. “The court’s preliminary injunction ensures USDA inspectors can assess whether this breeder continues to operate in violation of the Animal Welfare Act,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of the Justice Department’s Energy and Natural Resources Division (ENRD). “We enforce the AWA’s standards to ensure that animals in breeding facilities are safe and healthy.” “The U.S. Department of Agriculture continues its close collaboration with the U.S. Department of Justice on enforcing the Animal Welfare Act,” said General Counsel Tyler Clarkson of the USDA. According to the complaint, filed with a motion for TRO and preliminary injunction, Swedlund has allegedly engaged in a pattern and practice of violating the AWA while operating a dog breeding facility in Farmington, Iowa. After the court issued the TRO requested by the United States, inspectors from USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) and the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship coordinated and obtained access to Swedlund’s facility. APHIS cited Swedlund for dozens of AWA violations, including lack of adequate veterinary care for animals with visible fleas, failure to provide sanitary enclosures for puppies and their mothers, and indoor housing facilities with temperatures that exceeded 90 degrees for at least four hours. The state obtained a search warrant and took possession of all 32 dogs found at the facility, and they have been placed in a local animal shelter. In issuing the preliminary injunction, the court recognized, “the animals in Swedlund’s care suffered needlessly—precisely the type of harm that the AWA sought to prevent.” The preliminary injunction will assist USDA with preventing the conditions that affected the health and well-being of the animals at Swedlund’s facility. The USDA referred this matter to the Justice Department based on concerns about potential conditions faced by the animals in Swedlund’s facility. The preliminary injunction will assist USDA with assessing the health and well-being of the animals in Swedlund’s possession. This lawsuit follows the Prioritization of Animal Welfare Enforcement memorandum issued by the Attorney General in February. USDA’s APHIS is investigating this matter. Trial Attorneys Kamela A. Caschette, Michelle M. Spatz, and Bonnie M. Ballard of ENRD’s Wildlife and Marine Resources Section are handling this matter.


title: This is a test

component: USAO - Mississippi, Northern


title: Wyoming Law Enforcement Leaders Unite to Combat Drug Abuse and Drug Trafficking

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: CHEYENNE Wyo.—The U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Wyoming joined the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Rocky Mountain High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (RMHIDTA) program, the Laramie County Sheriff's Office today to highlight their coordinated efforts to combat drug trafficking, reduce overdose deaths, and hold criminals responsible for distributing dangerous drugs. During a joint briefing, officials discussed the latest trends impacting Wyoming, including the continued threat posed by fentanyl and cartel-connected drug trafficking organizations. They emphasized that while overdose deaths have declined in recent years, fentanyl remains the deadliest drug threat facing the nation, and law enforcement agencies continue to see increasing seizures of illicit fentanyl and other dangerous narcotics across the state. Officials highlighted the collaborative work underway to identify and dismantle drug trafficking organizations operating in Wyoming. Through intelligence sharing, joint investigations, highway interdiction efforts, and coordinated federal prosecutions, law enforcement agencies are disrupting the criminal networks responsible for distributing fentanyl, methamphetamine, cocaine, and heroin throughout the region. The briefing also underscored the importance of partnerships between law enforcement and public health agencies to reduce substance abuse and prevent overdose deaths. Officials warned that counterfeit pills continue to claim lives across the country and urged the public to never take medication that was not prescribed by a licensed medical provider and dispensed by a legitimate pharmacy. "Protecting Wyoming communities requires a unified approach," said U.S. Attorney Darin Smith. "By working together across all levels of government, we are disrupting criminal organizations, removing deadly drugs from our streets, and saving lives through prevention, enforcement, and accountability." Fentanyl remains the deadliest drug threat facing our country, said Special Agent in Charge David Olesky with the DEA. “Nearly all the fentanyl in the United States comes from Mexico, and most of it is trafficked by the Sinaloa and Jalisco Cartels. Interstates 25 and 70 remain transportation routes for cartel-led smuggling.” The Laramie County Sheriff Brian Kozak said, "We value our law enforcement partners. It takes all of us together to investigate these crimes and hold the offenders accountable. We have a zero-tolerance policy for drug offenses in Laramie County, resulting in 186 drug arrests made by our deputies so far this year." Training Manager Jeremy Wicht from RMHIDTA stated, “The close working partnership between the state’s public safety and health agencies will continue to be integral in addressing the most dangerous drug trafficking endangering Wyoming communities.” This press conference was held to enforce 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. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Project Safe Neighborhoods. DEA’s Fentanyl Free America initiative integrates enforcement with prevention and public awareness to address both the supply and demand side of the crisis. The integrated approach to Fentanyl Free America reflects how DEA is adapting to the current threat environment by combining operational pressure with prevention to achieve lasting results. Information and free resources are available on DEA.gov . ### Image Caption: (From Left to Right) Laramie County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO) Deputy Wilthanger, LCSO K9 Dak, Sheriff Brian Kozak, LCSO; Darin Smith, United States Attorney for the District of Wyoming, Dave Olesky, Special Agent in Charge, Drug Enforcement Administration, and Jeremy Wicht, Training Manager, Rocky Mountain High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) spoke at a press conference to combat drug abuse and drug trafficking in Wyoming.


title: Marathon County Man Sentenced to 7 ½ Years for Methamphetamine Trafficking

component: USAO - Wisconsin, Western

body_text: MADISON, WIS. – Chadwick M. Elgersma, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Tyler Briggs, 33, Mosinee, Wisconsin, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge William M. Conley to 7 ½ years in federal prison for possessing methamphetamine intended for distribution. The prison term will be followed by 5 years of supervised release. Briggs pled guilty to this charge on April 23, 2026. On January 29, 2026, an undercover officer with the Wausau Police Department arranged to buy a small amount of methamphetamine from Briggs outside of a Wausau bar. When Briggs arrived, police arrested him and found over 1.5 pounds of methamphetamine in his backpack. During an interview, Briggs admitted to police that he was a drug dealer. At Briggs’s sentencing, Judge Conley observed that over the past several years, Briggs had spent more time in jail than out in the community. Judge Conley found that the lengthy sentence was necessary because the large amount of methamphetamine in this case put Briggs in an entirely different category of drug distributor. The charge against Briggs was the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI’s Central Wisconsin Narcotics Task Force comprised of agents from the FBI, Wisconsin State Patrol, Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office, Marathon County Sheriff’s Office, Portage County Sheriff’s Office, Mountain Bay Police Department, Wausau Police Department and Wisconsin National Guard Counter Drug Program. Assistant U.S. Attorney William M. Levins prosecuted the case. Federal prosecutions by the U.S. Department of Justice involving drugs and guns are part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Operation Take Back America. Operation Take Back America is a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department 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. 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: Sex offender who failed to register and absconded from community supervision sentenced for illegal gun possession

component: USAO - Washington, Western

body_text: Seattle – A 40-year-old Seattle man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Seattle to 37 months in prison for illegally possessing a loaded “ghost gun,” announced First Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Neil Floyd. Raymond Lawrence Massey was convicted in Clark County, Washington in 2011 of assault with sexual motivation. After serving more than seven years in state custody, he absconded from community supervision and failed to register in King County as a sex offender. At the sentencing hearing U.S. District Judge Kymberly K. Evanson said, “illegally possessing a firearm is a serious offense.” According to records filed in the case, Massey was convicted of sexually assaulting a 15-year-old while claiming to be armed with a firearm. He was sentenced to 81 months to life in prison and was required to register as a sex offender. Instead, Massey left the area where he was on community corrections and moved to the Seattle area. He did not register as a sex offender. When Department of Corrections officers located him, he had a polymer 9 mm firearm, loaded with a red dot sight on the barrel. The gun was privately manufactured – known as a “ghost gun” as it lacks a serial number which can be traced by law enforcement. In asking for a guidelines sentence, Assistant United States Attorney Cecelia Gregson wrote to the court, “Once located, the defendant ran from officers and refused commands to comply with arrest. Once caught, the defendant alerted officers to the fact that he was armed with a non-serialized handgun with an extended capacity magazine and a red dot optic designed to assist with precision aiming. The fact that the defendant committed this offense while on supervision is problematic in and of itself. Further troubling, the defendant had then twice escaped from Department of Corrections supervision for a crime of sexual violence, was not compliant with sex offender registration, was living amongst citizens unaware of the risk he posed to their safety.” Massey will be on three years of federal supervised release following his prison term. He is required to register as a sex offender. Judge Evanson noted that Massey will have the benefit of supervision in the federal system saying, “Our probation officers are extraordinary and want you to succeed” in a crime-free life. The case was investigated by the Washington State Department of Corrections, the Seattle Police Department, and the U.S. Marshals Service. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Cecelia Gregson.


title: Pair convicted for scheme to defraud seriously ill veterans by calling medical facilities to steal personal information

body_text: Seattle – A former King County Jail inmate and his accomplice were convicted today in U.S. District Court in Seattle for their scheme to target seriously ill veterans for fraud, announced First Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Neil Floyd. 47-year-old Darryl Lamont Young was convicted of all 14 counts in the indictment while his co-defendant, 29-year-old Aqeelah Ngiesha Williams, was convicted of 12 counts. The jury deliberated about six hours following a four-day trial. Both defendants were charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit aggravated identity theft. Both were convicted of six counts of aggravated identity theft. Young was convicted of six counts of wire fraud and Williams was convicted of four counts of wire fraud. Young remains in custody while Williams remains on bond. U.S. District Judge Jamal N. Whitehead has not yet scheduled a sentencing date. According to the records in the case and testimony at trial, Young, while incarcerated, used the jail phone system to place calls to the local Veterans Affairs medical center. These calls were free and the local VA medical center did not receive the jail’s announcement that the call was from an inmate. Impersonating a VA employee, Young would then ask to be transferred to out-of-state medical facilities. Because the local VA transferred the call, the out-of-state medical center did not know that the call was from an inmate. Once connected to the out-of-state medical center, Young posed as a VA employee — “Jason in bed control” or “Travis” in “patient registration”—who needed information about the patients currently in the Intensive Care Unit, including their names and the names and phone numbers of their emergency contact person. Having served in the military, Young had some understanding of VA hospital operations. Once Young had information about a seriously ill veteran, he would call Williams who placed a three-way call to the veteran or the veteran’s emergency contact. Young would pretend to be a VA employee who needed the veteran’s credit or debit card information to deposit COVID stimulus benefits into the veteran’s bank account. Once Young and Williams had the veterans’ card information, they used it to deposit funds into Young’s commissary and jail call accounts. Young and Williams targeted more than 30 VA and non-VA medical facilities and targeted more than 60 victims. They attempted 130 fraudulent transactions on victim accounts and obtained about $8,300 from the scheme. In closing argument Assistant U.S. Attorney Sok Tea Jiang told the jury “This was a shared plan, a shared purpose, a shared role—using fraud to steal from vulnerable victims. These defendants forced their way into the hospital through the phone lines with lies and deception.” Conspiracy to commit wire fraud and wire fraud are each punishable by up to 20 years in prison. Aggravated identity theft is punishable by two years in prison to run consecutive to any other sentence imposed in the case. The case is being investigated by the Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General. (VA-OIG) and the United States Secret Service (USSS). The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Yunah Chung and Sok Tea Jiang.


title: Justice Department Opens Application Period for Program to Enhance Tribal Access to National Crime Information Databases

component: USAO - Tennessee, Western

body_text: WASHINGTON – The Department of Justice is pleased to announce the opening of the application period for federally recognized Tribes and intertribal consortia to participate in the Tribal Access Program (TAP) for National Crime Information. TAP improves public safety by providing federally recognized Tribes the ability to access and exchange data with national crime information databases for authorized criminal justice and non-criminal justice purposes, including the FBI’s National Crime Information Center (NCIC). “Making America safe again extends to Indian country and Native American communities across the U.S. who experience high rates of crime and victimization,” said Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche. “For more than a decade the Department of Justice has offered TAP, an innovative program that enables Tribes to access and share critical crime data in real time with our national databases. With this information Tribal partners can solve crimes, locate fugitives, and use a variety of other tools to keep their communities safe.” The program provides software, hardware, and training, as well as a web-based application and biometric/biographic kiosk workstations to process fingerprints, take mugshots, and submit information to FBI Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) systems. The Department will accept TAP applications from July 13 to August 31. Tribes selected to participate will be notified in September. There are currently 152 federally recognized Tribes participating in TAP. Using TAP, Tribes have shared information about missing persons; entered domestic violence orders of protection for nationwide enforcement; registered convicted sex offenders; run criminal histories; located fugitives; entered bookings and convictions; and completed fingerprint-based record checks for non-criminal justice purposes such as screening employees or volunteers who work with children. “The TAP program has significantly helped the La Jolla Tribal Police Department by strengthening our operational capacity, improving access to critical law enforcement resources, and expanding the training opportunities available to our officers,” said Abraham Chavero, Chief of Police, La Jolla Tribal Police Department. “Through TAP’s support, we have been able to streamline reporting processes, enhance data accuracy, and improve coordination with partnering agencies.” “The Penobscot Nation Tribal Court has greatly benefited from participating in TAP,” said Rebecca Winter, Penobscot Nation Tribal Court Administrator. “Having direct access to national crime information systems has strengthened public safety efforts within our community. TAP has enabled our Court and law enforcement partners to access important information in real time, helping us better serve our tribal members.” For Tribes that are considering applying, TAP staff will be conducting informational webinars describing the program and its capabilities. Webinars will be offered throughout July and August. For more information about TAP, including webinar dates, times and access information, visit www.justice.gov/tribal/tribal-access-program-tap . To qualify for funding, federally recognized Tribes must have – and agree to use TAP for – at least one of the following: A Tribal sex offender registry authorized by the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act, A Tribal law enforcement agency that has arrest powers, A Tribal court that issues orders of protection, or A Tribal government agency that screens individuals for foster care placement or that investigates allegations of child abuse/neglect. TAP is funded by the Office of Sex Offender Sentencing, Monitoring, Apprehending, Registering, and Tracking; the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services; the Office for Victims of Crime; and the Office on Violence Against Women. TAP is co-managed by the department’s Office of the Chief Information Officer and Office of Tribal Justice. ### OAG 26-769 If you have questions, please use the contacts in the message or call the Office of Public Affairs at 202-514-2007.


title: Oklahoma City Felon Sentenced to Twelve Years in Federal Prison after Pointing a Firearm at Three People Inside Vehicle

component: USAO - Oklahoma, Western

body_text: OKLAHOMA CITY – STEVEN CHARLES GIVENS , 52, of Oklahoma City, has been sentenced to serve 144 months in federal prison for illegally possessing a firearm after a previous felony conviction, announced U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester. According to public records, on September 28, 2025, officers with the Oklahoma City Police Department responded to a residence after receiving reports that a man was pointing a firearm at a vehicle. Officers observed the suspect, later identified as Givens, standing outside a pickup truck. Witnesses reported to officers that three individuals inside the truck attempted to leave the parking lot, but Givens blocked their path with his vehicle before pointing a firearm at them for more than eight minutes while threatening to kill them. Officers then arrested Givens and recovered a firearm. Court records also reflect that on October 10, 2025, after Givens had been arrested, he attempted to pressure and influence a witness to stop cooperating with law enforcement. On November 4, 2025, a federal grand jury charged Givens with being a felon in possession of a firearm. Givens pleaded guilty on January 6, 2026, and admitted he possessed a firearm despite his previous felony convictions. At a sentencing hearing on July 9, 2026, U.S. District Judge Jodi W. Dishman sentenced Givens to serve 144 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release. In announcing her sentence, Judge Dishman noted the dangerous behavior of the defendant, the need to protect the public, the need for significant deterrence, and the defendant’s significant criminal history. Public records reflect that Givens has previous felony convictions in Oklahoma County District Court that include: second degree burglary and concealing stolen property in case number CF-1992-3265; robbery by force in case number CF-1992-5666; possession of a controlled dangerous substance in case number CF-2001-560; and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon in case number CF-2005-5984. This case is the result of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Oklahoma City Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mary E. Walters prosecuted the case. This case is part of Operation Take Back America (OTBA), 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. This case is also part of “Operation 922,” the Western District of Oklahoma’s implementation of OTBA, which prioritizes prosecution of federal crimes connected to domestic violence. Reference is made to public filings for additional information.


title: California Man to Serve 30 Years in Federal Prison for Transporting More Than 60 Pounds of Methamphetamine to Oklahoma

body_text: OKLAHOMA CITY – GUSTAVO DE ALBA , 48, of Los Angeles, California, has been sentenced to serve 360 months in federal prison for drug conspiracy and possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, announced U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester. According to public records, on June 13, 2025, law enforcement conducted a traffic stop involving a vehicle being driven by De Alba on Interstate 40 near Sayre, Oklahoma. A K-9 unit alerted to the presence of narcotics, prompting a search of the vehicle. During the search, officers discovered approximately 30 kilograms of methamphetamine hidden inside a sophisticated, aftermarket compartment concealed behind the back seat. A federal grand jury indicted De Alba on charges of drug conspiracy and possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute on July 1, 2025. Following a two-day trial, a federal jury convicted De Alba on both counts on February 18, 2026. At a sentencing hearing on July 13, 2026, U.S. District Judge Patrick R. Wyrick sentenced De Alba to serve 360 months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release. In announcing his sentence, Judge Wyrick noted the seriousness of the offense, the need to promote respect for the law, and the need for deterrence. This case is the result of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stephen Hoch and Drew E. Davis 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. Reference is made to public filings for additional information.


title: Rochester man going to prison for trafficking guns

component: USAO - New York, Western

body_text: ROCHESTER, N.Y.–U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Todd L. Addison, 38, of Rochester, NY, who was convicted firearms trafficking, was sentenced to serve 87 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Meredith A. Vacca. On multiple occasions between March 2025 and August 27, 2025, Addison purchased as many as seven firearms, including one with an obliterated serial number, from Federal Firearms Licensees in Pennsylvania, transported them to New York, and sold them illegally to individuals in Rochester. Addison knew that at least one of the persons he sold the firearms to was a felon who intended to dispose of the firearm unlawfully. On August 27, 2025, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Rochester Police Department Violent Crime Task Force executed federal search warrants at Addison’s Hudson Avenue residence and on a vehicle that he used to travel to and from Pennsylvania. During the search of the vehicle, law enforcement recovered a 9mm semi-automatic pistol, 56 rounds of ammunition, and pistol magazines. During the search of Addison’s residence, they found empty pistol boxes for various firearms, multiple black pistol holders, and a gun cleaning kit. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert A. Marangola. The sentencing is the culmination of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Bryan DiGirolamo, and the Rochester Police Department, under the direction of Chief David Smith. # # # #