title: Nine Criminal Aliens from Venezuela Plead Guilty for Roles in Sex Trafficking Organization

body_text: Nine criminal aliens from Venezuela have pleaded guilty to human trafficking, alien smuggling, and money laundering charges related to a sex trafficking ring operated in several motels in Nashville, Tennessee. According to court documents, the defendants orchestrated a human trafficking and smuggling scheme targeting vulnerable Venezuelan women, recruiting them to the U.S. with promises of employment. After arranging and facilitating their smuggling into the U.S., the defendants directed the women to Nashville. Once there, the women were told they owed an inflated smuggling debt, which they could only repay through commercial sex work. Those who resisted faced threats of physical harm against themselves and their families in Venezuela. The defendants profited by taking a cut of the women’s earnings in addition to collecting on the inflated smuggling debts. “Human smuggling and trafficking operations represent a dangerous convergence of exploitation and lawlessness,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “These perpetrators profited off human suffering while chipping away at the integrity of our border. These convictions show that protecting vulnerable individuals and securing our border are not competing goals.” “This criminal organization exploited vulnerable women, enriched itself through coercion and violence, and showed complete disregard for human dignity and the rule of law,” said U.S. Attorney Braden H. Boucek for the Middle District of Tennessee. “We will continue working with our law enforcement partners to hold human traffickers accountable, dismantle transnational criminal organizations operating in our communities, and ensure justice for victims." “Homeland Security Investigations is committed to the pursuit and dismantlement of transnational criminal organizations that exploit vulnerable people for profit,” said Special Agent in Charge Dennis M. Fetting of HSI Nashville. “The outcome of this Homeland Security Task Force investigation is a testament to the positive impact law enforcement can have when working in collaboration towards the common goal of holding these criminals accountable.” “This case demonstrates the Homeland Security Task Force’s unwavering commitment to protecting our communities from human trafficking and smuggling schemes that exploit vulnerable people for financial gain,” said Special Agent in Charge Terence G. Reilly of the FBI Nashville Field Office. “FBI Nashville, working alongside our law enforcement partners, will continue to aggressively investigate and dismantle criminal networks that threaten public safety.” “This case is a stark reminder human trafficking and smuggling operations prey on our communities most vulnerable, using violence and intimidation to exploit innocent lives for profit,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Richard Gaskins of IRS Criminal Investigation, Charlotte Field Office. “By dismantling this network, we send a clear message to those who target victims with threats and coercion. We remain committed to working alongside our law enforcement partners to protect victims and bring perpetrators to justice.” “We have said it before, and these guilty pleas reiterate: if you lure vulnerable people to this country with lies, force them into sexual exploitation, and profit from their suffering, we will find you, dismantle your operation, and hold you accountable,” said Director David Rausch of the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation. “This case is a powerful reminder that when our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners stand together, there is no haven for human traffickers.” Yilibeth Carmen Rivero-de Caldera (“Rivero”) and her son, Kleiver Daniel Mota Rivero (“Mota”), led and managed the human trafficking and smuggling scheme. Rivero enlisted her adult children and their spouses, Mota’s girlfriend, and others to take on various roles in the scheme. Rivero, Mota, and defendant Ramon De Jesus Velasquez Martinez (“Velasquez”) used threats of violence, including wielding firearms, to intimidate and force compliance from the women trafficked by the organization. To further intimidate the women, Mota and other defendants engaged in conduct that made the victims believe Mota was affiliated with a Venezuelan prison gang and openly spoke about Mota’s prior prison term for homicide in Venezuela. Rivero, Mota, Velasquez, and the six other defendants — Wilmarys Del Valle Manzano Solorzano (“Manzano”), Endrik Alexander Morales-Rivero (“Morales”), Ariannys Beatriz Gutierrez-Carrillo (“Gutierrez”), Frankyanna Del Valle Romero-Rivero (“Romero”), Jesus Enrique Castillo Rodriguez (“Castillo”), and Yuribetzi Del Valle Gomez Machuca (“Gomez”) — arranged or otherwise aided the smuggling of the victims into the United States, posted online commercial sex advertisements for the victims, set up commercial sex appointments with men who responded to the postings, and collected the proceeds of the commercial sex acts. Rivero, Mota, Romero, and Morales pleaded guilty to sex trafficking conspiracy, conspiracy to bring aliens to the United States for financial gain, and conspiracy to commit money laundering. Castillo pleaded guilty to sex trafficking conspiracy and conspiracy to commit money laundering. Gutierrez, Gomez, and Velasquez pleaded guilty to sex trafficking conspiracy. Manzano pleaded guilty to conspiracy to bring aliens to the United States for financial gain and conspiracy to commit money laundering. The charges Rivero, Mota, Romero, Morales, Castillo, Gutierrez, Gomez, and Velasquez pleaded guilty to carry a statutory maximum penalty of life in prison. Manzano pleaded guilty to charges that carry a maximum penalty of twenty years in prison. The defendants are scheduled to be sentenced during the week of Nov. 16. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Trial Attorneys Lindsey Roberson, Jessica Arco, and Alexandra Skinnion of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section (HRSP) and Assistant U.S. Attorney Katy Risinger for the Middle District of Tennessee are prosecuting the case. These prosecutions are part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole- of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. The Nashville HSTF comprises agents and officers from Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigations (IRS-CI), U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), United States Marshals Service (USMS), United States Secret Service (USSS), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and other federal agencies, working in collaboration with our state and local partners, with the prosecutions being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Tennessee. The investigation and charges are further supported and prosecuted by Joint Task Force Alpha (JTFA), the Department’s lead effort in combating high-impact human smuggling and trafficking committed by cartels and Transnational Criminal Organizations (TCOs). A highly successful partnership between the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), JTFA investigates and prosecutes human smuggling and trafficking and related immigration crimes that impact public safety and border security. JTFA’s mission is to target the leaders and organizers of Cartels and TCOs involved in human smuggling and trafficking throughout the Americas. The Attorney General has elevated and expanded JTFA to target the most prolific and dangerous human smuggling and trafficking groups operating not only in Mexico and the Northern Triangle countries of Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras, but also in Canada, the Caribbean, and the maritime border, and elsewhere. Led by the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section and supported by the Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section, the Office of International Affairs, and the Office of Enforcement Operations, among others, JTFA has dedicated Assistant United States Attorney-detailees from the Southern District of California; District of Arizona; District of New Mexico; Western and Southern Districts of Texas; Southern District of Florida; Northern District of New York; and District of Vermont. JTFA also partners with other USAOs throughout the country and supports high-priority cases in any district. All JTFA cases rely on substantial law enforcement resources from DHS, including ICE/HSI and CBP/BP and OFO, as well as FBI and other law enforcement agencies. To date, JTFA’s work has resulted in more than 465 domestic and international arrests of leaders, organizers, and significant facilitators of alien smuggling and/or trafficking; more than 419 U.S. convictions; more than 363 significant jail sentences imposed, and forfeitures of substantial assets. Anyone who has information about human trafficking should report that information to the National Human Trafficking Hotline toll-free at 1-888-373-7888, which is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. For more information about human trafficking, please visit www.humantraffickinghotline.org . Information on the Justice Department’s efforts to combat human trafficking can be found at www.justice.gov/humantrafficking . Photo of the Somatel Hotel where Trafficking Occurred Additional Photo of the Somatel Hotel where Trafficking Occurred Photo of the Super8 Hotel where Trafficking Occurred Additional Photo of the Super8 Hotel where Trafficking Occurred


title: Nevada Businesswoman Sentenced to Prison for Fraudulent Scheme Seeking Millions in COVID-19 Tax Credits

component: National Fraud Enforcement Division

body_text: A Nevada woman was sentenced today to 18 months in prison for conspiring to defraud the United States by filing false COVID-19 employment tax credits. The government recommended a sentence of 40 months’ imprisonment. “The Fraud Division will not tolerate anyone who steals from public benefits programs designed to support Americans in need,” said Assistant Attorney General of the Justice Department’s National Fraud Enforcement Division Colin M. McDonald. “If you attempt to defraud these programs, we will come after you with the full force of federal law. We are committed to safeguarding America’s tax dollars and the programs they are meant to support.” “Today’s sentence, once again, highlights our District’s commitment to the American taxpayer that when people commit fraud, they will face the legal consequences of those criminal acts,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada. According to court documents and statements made in court, Adonia Stiles, of Las Vegas, was a real estate agent, tax preparer, and clothing store owner. Stiles conspired with others to file false tax returns fraudulently seeking refunds based on the employee retention credit (ERC) and sick and family leave credit. Congress created both the ERC and the sick and family leave credit to aid struggling businesses during the COVID-19 global pandemic. Stiles caused one of her co-conspirators, Candies Goode-McCoy, to file 11 false employment tax returns for Stiles’s clothing store seeking a total of more than $800,000 in refundable tax credits. Stiles also referred 18 other people to Goode-McCoy, for whom Goode-McCoy filed over 150 false employment tax returns. Goode-McCoy claimed $15 million in fraudulent tax credits on behalf of these taxpayers, which resulted in the United States paying out more than $7 million in refunds. In exchange for making these referrals to Goode McCoy, Stiles received at least $135,000. She did not report this income on her individual income tax returns. In April 2026, Goode-McCoy was sentenced to 54 months in prison for her role in the scheme. In addition to the term of imprisonment, U.S. District Judge Jennifer A. Dorsey ordered Stiles to serve two years of supervised release and to pay $7,079,121.48 in restitution to the United States. IRS Criminal Investigation and the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration investigated the case. Trial Attorney John C. Gerardi of the Criminal Division’s Tax Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard Anthony Lopez of the District of Nevada prosecuted the case. On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the Fraud Division. The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.


title: Labcorp Agrees to Pay $14.5M to Resolve False Claims Act Allegations

component: Civil Division

body_text: Laboratory Corporation of America (Labcorp), a national clinical diagnostics company, has agreed to pay $14,500,000 to resolve allegations that it violated the False Claims Act by submitting false claims to Medicare Part B (Medicare) for medically unnecessary urine drug testing (UDT) for some patients conducted pursuant to a testing panel offered by Labcorp, called “Toxassure Comprehensive.” “The government expects that any testing it pays for is medically necessary and not wasteful or structured in a way that maximizes billing opportunities for providers at the expense of the federal fisc,” said Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “We will continue to hold providers who do otherwise accountable.” “Today’s settlement reflects my Office’s enduring commitment to combatting healthcare fraud and recovering taxpayer money. Labcorp’s conduct resulted in Medicare payouts for unnecessary tests,” said U.S. Attorney Leah B. Foley for the District of Massachusetts. “We will continue to hold accountable providers who engage in fraud, waste, and abuse.” “Medicare beneficiaries and taxpayers should be able to trust that testing and billing practices are fair and appropriate,” said Acting Deputy Inspector General for Investigations Miranda L. Bennett of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS‑OIG). “Today’s settlement makes clear that when providers put profits before patients and ignore billing rules, we will act decisively to hold them accountable.” Labcorp’s Toxassure Comprehensive panel contained both “Presumptive” and “Definitive” UDT methods. In general, Presumptive UDT detects the presence or absence of certain drug classes subject to certain testing thresholds while definitive UDT identifies individual substances and their concentrations, where applicable. Medicare payment for UDT is based on bundled payment rates associated with the Current Procedure Terminology (CPT) or Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) codes. In general, for laboratory-based Presumptive testing, Medicare pays a flat rate no matter the number of drug classes tested, pursuant to CPT code 80307, and for definitive testing Medicare pays a flat rate for 22 or more drug classes per HCPCS Code G0483. As part of the settlement, Labcorp admitted, acknowledged, and accepted responsibility for the following facts: From Jan. 1, 2018, through Nov. 22, 2023, Labcorp routinely submitted claims for presumptive and definitive UDT to Medicare, some of which pursuant to a testing panel marketed by Labcorp as “ToxAssure Comprehensive.” ToxAssure Comprehensive consisted of a preselected combination of presumptive UDT for certain substances and direct to definitive UDT ( i.e. , with no prior presumptive test) for other substances. Labcorp ran many of these tests simultaneously for the same patient, on the same date of service, using the same urine sample, and billed Medicare with CPT Code 80307 for the presumptive UDT and HCPCS Code G0483 for the definitive UDT. In other words, Labcorp billed Medicare for both the all-inclusive presumptive CPT code and the highest-tier definitive HCPCS code each time the ToxAssure Comprehensive was performed. For several of the substances tested on a direct-to-definitive basis, a presumptive testing option existed but Labcorp performed its definitive tests without first performing a presumptive test to inform the necessity of definitive testing for that substance. The United States alleged that the full ToxAssure Comprehensive panel billed as described above resulted in the submission of medically unnecessary claims to Medicare for some of the patients for whom it was performed. Labcorp also represented in the settlement agreement that it has ceased billing to Medicare the combination of codes 80307 and G0483 for beneficiaries testing using the ToxAssure Comprehensive panel. Labcorp has been credited in this settlement under the Department of Justice’s guidelines for taking disclosure, cooperation and remediation into account in False Claims Act cases, Justice Manual §4-4.112. The resolution obtained in this matter was the result of a coordinated effort between the Justice Department’s Civil Division, Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts, in conjunction with HHS-OIG. The investigation and resolution of this matter illustrate the government’s emphasis on combating healthcare fraud. One of the most powerful tools in this effort is the False Claims Act. Tips and complaints from all sources about potential fraud, waste, abuse and mismanagement, can be reported to the Department of Health and Human Services at www.oig.hhs.gov/fraud/report-fraud or 800-HHS-TIPS (800-447-8477). This year the Administration launched the Task Force to Eliminate Fraud and the National Fraud Enforcement Division to enhance the Administration’s war on fraud, waste, and abuse in federal programs. When unscrupulous actors exploit these programs for their own financial gain, they defraud the government, harm the people these programs are designed to aid and protect, and undermine American businesses that play by the rules. The Civil Division’s FCA enforcement plays a critical role in combatting such fraudulent schemes, recovering billions of dollars for the American taxpayers, and holding wrongdoers accountable. FCA matters will continue to be on the forefront of the battle against fraud, and the Civil Division’s FCA work will support and advance the mission of the Task Force to Eliminate Fraud and the National Fraud Enforcement Division. The matter was handled by Fraud Section Senior Counsel for Health Care Fraud Augustine Ripa and Assistant U.S. Attorney Abraham George for the District of Massachusetts. Investigative support was provided by HHS-OIG and the FBI. The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability.


title: Justice Department Triples Claims Processed Under Public Safety Officers’ Benefits Program

component: Office of the Attorney General

body_text: Over the last four weeks, the Department of Justice’s Office of Justice Programs (OJP) has finalized more than three times the number of Public Safety Officers’ Benefits (PSOB) Program death claim determinations in comparison to the previous nine-month period providing over $96 million in benefits to eligible surviving families of fallen public safety officers. “Law enforcement officers, firefighters, other public safety officers, and their families devote their lives to keeping us safe and serving their communities. When they experience a tragedy in the line of duty, it is our duty to provide timely support in any way that we can,” said Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche. The PSOB Program provides death and education benefits to survivors of fallen law enforcement officers, firefighters, and other first responders, and disability benefits to officers catastrophically injured in the line of duty and education benefits to their families. OJP receives more than 1,200 applications each year, working closely with survivors, injured officers, and employing agencies to process applications and adjudicate eligible claims. The PSOB Office also collaborates with national law enforcement, firefighter, and first responder organizations to assist with preparation of PSOB applications and offer survivor peer support, counseling services, and other resources to survivors of fallen law enforcement officers, firefighters, and other first responders nationwide. “From day one as the Associate Attorney General, I have made it my mission to cut through red tape, get to the bottom of bureaucratic federal processes, and ensure our actions speak louder than our words,” said Associate Attorney General Stanley E. Woodward, Jr. “Four weeks ago, I directed OJP to surge additional resources to the PSOB team to support outreach to applicants, evidence gathering, and claim review and determination. This Department of Justice is unwavering in our commitment to promptly and fairly recognize the sacrifice their loved ones made in service to our Nation.” The Department of Justice is committed to doing our part to support officers and their families and keeping up this momentum for current and future PSOB applicants. Additional information about the PSOB Program and how to file or access a claim is available at https://bja.ojp.gov/program/psob . If you have questions about the PSOB Program, please call 1–888–744–6513 between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time or email AskPSOB@usdoj.gov .


title: Hoboken Accountant Charged with Preparing False Tax Returns for Clients

body_text: A grand jury returned an indictment yesterday charging accountant a tax preparer with preparing false tax returns for clients and obstructing the IRS. According to the indictment, Demetreus Hargrove operated The Wright Star LLC, a tax preparation business he used to prepare and file 30 false individual and business tax returns for the years 2019 through 2023. As part of his scheme, Hargrove allegedly encouraged and helped his clients to form businesses in order to claim fabricated business expenses. He also allegedly recharacterized his clients’ personal expenses as deductible business expenses and frequently filed business tax returns with the IRS without having first reviewed them with his clients. According to the indictment, Hargrove also prepared and filed tax returns for clients reporting false business losses and fabricated bad debts, even though his clients did not provide him with this information. Hargrove was charged with 30 counts of aiding or assisting the filing of false tax returns. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of three years in prison for each count of filing false returns for clients. He also faces a period of supervised release, restitution and monetary penalties. Assistant Attorney General Colin McDonald of the Justice Department’s National Fraud Enforcement Division made the announcement. IRS Criminal Investigation is investigating the case. Trial Attorneys Likhitha Butchireddygari and Lyndi McVey of the Criminal Division’s Tax Section are prosecuting the case. An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (“Fraud Division”). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.


title: Former Adviser to Federal Reserve Board of Governors Sentenced to Federal Prison Term

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: Note: the release has been updated to include a quote from the FBI’s Counterintelligence and Espionage Division. John Harold Rogers, 64, a former senior adviser for the Federal Reserve Board of Governors (FRB), was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 38 months in federal prison in connection with making false statements to federal investigators about sharing restricted Federal Reserve information with Chinese intelligence operatives. “The United States entrusted Rogers with its most sensitive economic data,” said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg. “He violated that sacred trust and lied repeatedly to conceal his collaboration with individuals in China with ties to the Chinese Communist Party, exposing his own country, the United States, to counterintelligence risks.” “John Rogers spent years secretly funneling sensitive Federal Reserve information to Chinese spies, then looked investigators in the eye and lied about it. And when that wasn’t enough, he lied again under oath at trial,” said U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro for the District of Columbia. “Federal Reserve employees entrusted with America’s most sensitive economic information cannot sell out their country and their colleagues for personal gain and then expect to hide behind a single word.” “When Rogers made the decision to share sensitive economic information from the Federal Reserve and give it to China’s intelligence service for personal gain, he betrayed both his country and his oath as a federal employee,” said Roman Rozhavsky of the FBI’s Counterintelligence and Espionage Division. “As this case makes clear, the Chinese Communist Party is employing increasingly aggressive tactics in its campaign to gain a strategic economic advantage over the U.S. by targeting our financial policies, trade secrets, and innovation. However, this sentencing underscores the FBI’s unwavering commitment to pursuing anyone who threatens our economic and national security and bringing them to justice.” “John Rogers deliberately lied to our investigators to conceal the fact he shared restricted non-public Federal Reserve information with intelligence agents working for China,” said Michael E. Horowitz, Inspector General for the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. “Today’s sentencing sends a clear message that those who mislead and obstruct federal agents will be brought to justice. I commend the U.S. Attorney’s Office, our agents, and our federal law enforcement partners for their hard work and persistence, which led to this result.” “While holding a position of trust, Rogers repeatedly violated Federal Reserve information security policies by taking sensitive, nonpublic information and sending it to himself, while he was in China, and to others affiliated with the Chinese Communist Party,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Daniel Wierzbicki of the Washington Field Office's Counterintelligence and Cyber Division. “Rogers then lied to federal agents about these disclosures. His sentencing underscores the shared commitment of the FBI and the Federal Reserve Board Office of Inspector General to pursue anyone who endangers U.S. economic and national security by passing confidential information to an adversarial government.” A federal jury deliberated for two days before finding Rogers guilty on February 3 of making false statements to government investigators at the Office of Inspector General for the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. In addition to the 38-month prison sentence, Judge Dabney Friedrich ordered Rogers to serve 12 months of supervised release. Federal prosecutors had requested a 60-month prison term. Rogers, of Vienna, Virginia, is a U.S. citizen who holds a Ph.D. in economics. According to court papers, Rogers served for decades as a Senior Advisor at the Federal Reserve Board of Governors, where he had access to restricted, nonpublic information about monetary policy and the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC). From 2010 until 2021, Rogers worked as a senior adviser in FRB’s Division of International Finance where he was entrusted with confidential FRB information. Beginning in 2017, Rogers developed a clandestine relationship with Hummin Lee, a Chinese intelligence operative, whom he met at a conference in China. Over the following years, Rogers met Lee and associates in hotel rooms in China under the guise of teaching academic “classes,” using the sessions to convey Federal Reserve information that Lee had specifically tasked him to collect. Rogers printed restricted documents to bring on a trip to China, stripped classification markings from materials before emailing them to his personal account, and forwarded sensitive information to a professor at Fudan University, a Chinese state-run institution, days before meeting Lee. Rogers understood that Lee was writing reports for the Chinese government using the information he provided, and knew China could use advance knowledge of Federal Reserve interest rate decisions to generate enormous profits trading its roughly $1.5 trillion in U.S. Treasury securities. In exchange, Rogers received help with his new wife, university professorships, and substantial financial benefits from Lee and Chinese universities. He told investigators he “owed everything” to Hummin Lee. On Feb. 4, 2020, Rogers agreed to be interviewed by investigators from the Federal Reserve’s Office of Inspector General. When asked directly whether he had ever shared restricted Federal Reserve information outside the Board, he answered: “Never.” The investigation was conducted by the FBI Washington Field Office and the Federal Reserve Board Office of Inspector General. The matter was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Adam Barry and Jocelyn Ballantine, Trial Attorneys Nicholas O. Hunter and Yifei Zheng of the National Security Division, and Paralegal Specialist Derra McQuaig of the National Security Division.


title: Florida Man Admits to Strangling Military Spouse on Two Occasions and Lying to FBI

component: Criminal Division

body_text: A Florida man pleaded guilty today to charges related to two incidents where he strangled his wife, lying to the FBI about the events, and lying about a prior arrest for a domestic violence battery in 2020. According to court documents, Antonio Jabar Floyd Jr., 38, strangled his active-duty military wife on two occasions, once in 2025 and once in 2026, while he was living with her overseas in Misawa, Japan. In January 2025, while in the home of a mutual friend where children, including his own, were present, Floyd Jr. became enraged at his wife and began strangling her so hard that his hand shook, telling her “see how easy I can control you.” The friend attempted to intervene but was unable to pull Floyd Jr.’s hand from his wife’s neck. On another occasion in April 2026, Floyd Jr. strangled his wife in the family home and in the presence of their minor children. He became enraged upon reading her personal emails, told her she was “lucky I didn’t kill you” and told her that he would not leave her even if she served him with divorce papers. In consensual meetings with investigating FBI agents, Floyd Jr. made several false statements including denying that he strangled his wife, that he had never engaged in physical violence against her, and that he had never been arrested for battery or assault. Court records show that Floyd was arrested in Pensacola, Florida, on Oct. 22, 2020, for first degree battery on his wife for reportedly grabbing her by the throat and slamming her into a hallway wall. Floyd Jr. pleaded guilty to two counts of domestic violence (strangulation) and one count of making false statements to a federal agency. He will be sentenced on Oct. 15 and faces a statutory maximum penalty of five years in prison on each count and mandatory domestic violence counseling. A judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. FBI Los Angeles investigated this case with support from Air Force Office of Special Investigations. Senior Trial Attorney Danielle Hickman of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney David Goldberg for the Northern District of Florida are prosecuting this case.


title: Court Orders Michigan Tax Return Preparer to Shut Down Tax Preparation Business

body_text: The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan issued a permanent injunction against Detroit area tax return preparer Ann Heibeck and Detroit area tax return preparation businesses J&A Tax Services LLC doing business as Equitax (Equitax) and J&A Tax and Accounting Services LLC doing business as Equitax Accounting and Tax Service (J&A 2). The injunction bars Heibeck, Equitax, and J&A 2 from preparing tax returns, working for, or having any ownership stake in any tax preparation business, assisting others prepare tax returns or set up business as a preparer, and transferring or assigning customer lists to any other person or entity. The court previously entered similar judgments of permanent injunction against Tasha Washington, Crystal Patrick, Debra Washington, and Sade Cooper, after they failed to appear to defend against the United States’ claims. According to the complaint, Heibeck and Equitax prepared and filed tax returns that falsely understated their customers’ federal income tax liabilities by claiming, among other things: Fictitious or inflated Schedule C business expenses; Fictitious or inflated Dependent Care expenses; Fictitious or inflated Education expenses; and Fictitious or inflated credits available under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act. The court found that Heibeck prepared and filed thousands of false income tax returns through J&A 2, an entity she owned, using her husband’s Personal Tax Identification Number. It enjoined J&A 2 as an active participant in her scheme. As a result of the court’s order, Heibeck, Equitax, and J&A 2 must post a copy of the injunction at all locations where they conduct business and post a link to the injunction on their business’s website. Deputy Assistant Attorney General Joshua Wu of the Civil Division’s Tax Litigation Branch made the announcement. Tax Litigation Branch attorneys Julia Glen, Franklin Sandrea-Rivero, and Claire Shimberg handled this matter. Taxpayers seeking a return preparer should remain vigilant against unscrupulous tax preparers. The IRS has information on its website for choosing a tax return preparer and has launched a free directory of federal tax preparers. The IRS also offers 10 tips to avoid tax season fraud and ways to safeguard their personal information. In the past decade, the Department of Justice has obtained injunctions against hundreds of unscrupulous tax preparers. Information about these cases is available on the Justice Department’s website . An alphabetical listing of persons enjoined from preparing returns and promoting tax schemes can be found on this page . If you believe that one of the enjoined persons or businesses may be violating an injunction, please contact the Civil Division, Tax Litigation Branch , with details.


title: Sharon Resident Sentenced to Seven Years in Prison for Armed Cocaine Trafficking

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Western

body_text: PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of Sharon, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced in federal court to 84 months in prison, to be followed by six years of supervised release, on his conviction of drug trafficking and firearm crimes, United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today. Senior United States District Judge Nora Barry Fischer imposed the sentence on Corey Adkins, 29. According to information presented to the Court, in January 2025, Adkins engaged in armed cocaine trafficking from his Sharon residence, where Adkins’ girlfriend and a young child also resided and were present at the time. Adkins had been convicted twice for cocaine trafficking during the preceding eight years. He pleaded guilty in January 2026 to possessing with intent to distribute a quantity of cocaine and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Assistant United States Attorney Craig W. Haller prosecuted this case on behalf of the United States. United States Attorney Rivetti commended the Sharon Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Adkins.


title: Sewickley Woman Pleads Guilty to Seven Counts of Bank Fraud

body_text: PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of Sewickley, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court to charges of bank fraud, United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today. Judith A. Hetzell, 63, pleaded guilty to seven counts before Senior United States District Judge Nora Barry Fischer. In connection with the guilty plea, the Court was advised that, between November 2023 and February 2025, Hetzell, the former business manager for a non-profit guardianship agency based in the Western District of Pennsylvania, fraudulently drafted checks against individuals’ bank accounts to which the agency had access as a provider of guardianship and other fiduciary services to the victims. Judge Fischer scheduled sentencing for October 13, 2026. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of up to 30 years in prison, a fine of up to $1 million, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant. Assistant United States Attorney Carolyn J. Bloch is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government. The United States Postal Inspection Service conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Hetzell.


title: Suspected gang member arrested for possessing a machinegun

component: USAO - New York, Western

body_text: BUFFALO, N.Y.–U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Lorenzo Harris, 20, of Buffalo, NY, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with illegal possession of a machinegun, which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. Since 2024, the FBI’s Safe Streets Task Force and the Buffalo Police Department’s Gang Intelligence Unit have been investigating the criminal activities of the Newburg 118 Drop Boys Gang, a violent street gang operating in and around the City of Buffalo. The FBI has identified numerous gang members as well as gang territory located on the east side of Buffalo. Members have been arrested by several police departments for violent criminal acts, including drug and firearm trafficking. Newburg 118 Drop Boys members commit violent criminal acts to protect gang-controlled territory and associated houses. Harris has been identified as a suspected gang member involved in firearm trafficking. On July 9, 2026, a search warrant was executed at an apartment at 80 Silo City Row in Buffalo, during which Harris, who was observed with a firearm in his hand, attempted to flee from law enforcement. Harris was taken into custody, and law enforcement seized the firearm, which had a machinegun conversion attached. Harris made an initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael J. Roemer and was detained pending a detention hearing on July 20, 2026. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney P. Richard Antoine. The complaint is the culmination of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Allen D. Davis II and the Buffalo Police Department, under the direction of Commissioner Erika Shield. The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. # # # #


title: Tennessee Woman Sentenced to Prison for Fraud Scheme Involving $1.4 Million of Fake Property Deeds

component: USAO - North Carolina, Western

body_text: CHARLOTTE, N.C. – A Tennessee woman was sentenced to prison today for filing bogus deeds for residential real estate in North Carolina and other states and misusing the owners’ personal identifying information (PII), announced Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. Alicia, England, 33, of Chattanooga, Tennessee, was ordered to serve 75 months in prison followed by two years of supervised release. She was also ordered to pay more than $300,000 as restitution. “Filing fake deeds and stealing identities can wreak havoc on a victim’s life,” said U.S. Attorney Russ Ferguson. “England left a trail of victims forced to deal with the aftermath of her crimes—for that, she will pay the price.” According to court documents and court proceedings, from October 2022 to August 2024, England engaged in a wire fraud scheme by filing fake deeds for residential real estate located in North Carolina and elsewhere. To carry out the scheme, England stole the identity of several victims, alive and deceased, and used their PII to open bank accounts, file fraudulent deeds, and enter into real estate sales for properties she did not actually own. In some cases, she also forged the signatures of notaries, while in others she used fake identifications. She then sold or attempted to sell the properties to third parties through various platforms, including Facebook Marketplace. In total, the scheme involved at least 19 properties, including four properties in the Charlotte area, worth more than $1.4 million. Court documents show that England’s fraudulent scheme caused victims significant emotional distress and financial hardship. England pleaded guilty to wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. She is in federal custody and will be transferred to the custody of the Federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation to a federal facility. In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney Ferguson thanked United States Secret Service for the investigation of the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Ryan of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte prosecuted the case.


title: Lenexa Man Charged with Traveling to Missouri to Engage  in Illegal Sexual Conduct with a Minor

component: USAO - Missouri, Western

body_text: KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Lenexa, Kan., man has been charged in federal court on an attempted child exploitation charge. Ruben A. Gutierrez, II, 25, of Lenexa was charged in a criminal complaint filed in the U.S. District Court in Kansas City, Mo. on Monday, July 13, 2026. Gutierrez had his initial appearance yesterday afternoon. The federal complaint charges Gutierrez with one count of Travel with Intent to Engage in Sexual Conduct with a Minor. According to an affidavit filed in support of the criminal complaint, Gutierrez engaged in online communications with an undercover law enforcement officer who was posing online as a 14-year-old minor. During his communications with the person he believed to be a minor, Gutierrez arranged to meet the purported minor to engage in sexual conduct. Gutierrez was later arrested on July 12, 2026, after he traveled from Kansas to the location in Missouri where he had arranged to meet the minor to engage in sexual conduct. A subsequent search of Gutierrez’s cell phone by law enforcement located text messages between Gutierrez and the purported minor. The charge contained in this complaint is simply an accusation, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charge must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney David Luna. It was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Kansas City, Missouri Police Department. Project Safe Childhood This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab "resources."


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

body_text: LAFAYETTE / ALEXANDRIA — 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. Attorneys John W. Nickel and Elliott Cassidy for the Western District of Louisiana are prosecuting the case with assistance from Paralegal Specialist Joanne Henry-Mills and Paralegal Specialist Denise Duhon. A criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. 26-775


title: Hot Springs Couple Sentenced to More Than 20 Years Combined in Federal Prison for Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine

component: USAO - Arkansas, Western

body_text: HOT SPRINGS – An Arkansas husband and wife were sentenced yesterday to more than 20 years combined in Federal Prison to be followed by five years of Federal Supervised Release for Conspiracy to Distribute More Than 500 Grams of a Mixture or Substance Containing Methamphetamine. The Honorable District Judge John Thomas Shepherd presided over the sentencing hearings, which took place in the United States District Court in Hot Springs. According to court records, in late 2024 into early 2025, law enforcement agent conducted undercover controlled purchases of methamphetamine from William Bostick , age 45, and his wife, Ashley Bostick, age 42, both of Hot Springs. On June 16, 2025, law enforcement agents executed a search warrant at the Bosticks’ residence, during which they located a large quantity of methamphetamine. It was also determined that both William and Ashley Bostick have prior felony convictions. On December 2, 2025, William Bostick pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Distribute More Than 500 Grams of a Mixture or Substance Containing Methamphetamine. During a separate hearing on the same date, Ashley Bostick pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Distribute More Than 500 Grams of a Mixture or Substance Containing Methamphetamine. William and Ashley Bostick appeared in separate proceedings before District Judge John Thomas Shepherd on July 13, 2026, in Hot Springs. William Bostick was sentenced to a term of 126 months imprisonment to be followed by five years of Federal Supervised Release. Ashley Bostick was sentenced to a term of 135 months imprisonment also to be followed by five years of Federal Supervised Release. Combined, the husband-and-wife duo was sentenced to a total of 261 months of imprisonment. United States Attorney Kevin R. Holmes made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Bryan A. Achorn prosecuted the case for the United States. The Department of Homeland Security, Investigations Division and the 18 th East Judicial District Drug Task Force investigated the case. The Office of the Prosecuting Attorney for the 18 th East Judicial District also assisted with the prosecution and investigation of this matter. This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the U.S. 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. Related court documents may be found on the Public Access to Electronic Records website at www.pacer.gov .


title: Repeat sex offender sentenced to nearly 33 years in prison for sexually exploiting 8-year-old

component: USAO - Ohio, Southern

body_text: COLUMBUS, Ohio – Approximately two years after he was released from prison for starving, beating and locking a 5-year-old child in a room for months, Timothi L. Cramer, 45, of Columbus, sexually exploited an 8-year-old. Cramer was sentenced in federal court here on July 10 to 393 months in prison. According to court documents, cyber tips were received regarding Cramer uploading hundreds of child pornography files in February and March 2024. Metadata for one image was flagged as “newly produced content” and indicated it had been created in February 2024 at or near the Baymont Inn in Columbus. The explicit photo depicted an 8-year-old victim. Cramer admitted to asking the child to pull down her pants for him for the photo. Subsequent investigation of images and videos in Cramer’s Gmail accounts revealed that Cramer seemed to have regular access to at least three minors. In addition, investigation of his electronics showed that Cramer had obtained a voluminous catalog of child sexual abuse images and videos from the internet, including of toddlers and videos that depicted minors engaged in bestiality and subjected to sadistic and masochistic abuse. The defendant was previously convicted in 2006 in Lake County, Florida, of Cruelty Toward Child Aggravated Child Abuse Torture and was sentenced to 20 years in prison with credit for 504 days served. He was released from prison in 2022. Cramer pleaded guilty in this case in February 2025 to sexually exploiting a minor and possessing child pornography. Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Jared Murphey, Acting Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Detroit; and Columbus Police Chief Elaine Bryant announced the sentence imposed by U.S. District Court Judge Algenon L. Marbley. Assistant United States Attorney Emily Czerniejewski is representing the United States in this case. This case is part of Project Safe Childhood , a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. # # #


title: Final fugitives charged as part of ‘Operation Fly City’ enforcement operation arrested

body_text: DAYTON, Ohio – The final of four fugitives charged in June as part of “Operation Fly City” were arrested by federal agents yesterday evening. U.S. Attorney Dominick S. Gerace II announced on June 22 with federal law enforcement partners the results of an eight-week operation to fight gun violence and drug trafficking in Dayton. Forty-seven defendants face federal charges. During the operation, which began on April 27, agents seized 176 firearms, as well as machinegun conversion devices and kilogram quantities of fentanyl, cocaine, and methamphetamine. At the time of the announcement, four defendants remained at large: Isaiah Chancellor, 25, of Dayton; Anthony Scott, 23, of Dayton; Eucelf Taste Sr., 46, of Trotwood; and Eucelf Taste Jr., 22, of Dayton. Father and son Taste Sr. and Taste Jr. were arrested yesterday by officials with the Southern Ohio Fugitive Apprehension Strike Team (SOFAST), which is led by the United States Marshals Service. SOFAST arrested Taste Sr. and Taste Jr. in the parking lot of a business complex in Oakwood. Taste Jr. allegedly sold fentanyl and a machinegun to undercover officers. He told officers he was a member of the 41 Boyz, a violent drug trafficking organization that law enforcement knows to offer protection services to other drug dealers. Charging documents detail that Taste Jr. allegedly offered these services to undercover officers, saying he and others would willingly provide armed security at a five-kilogram drug deal. Taste Jr. allegedly showed up to the purported deal site on June 9, armed, and brought with him two other associates who were also armed. Taste Jr. also allegedly discussed his father, saying his father was a major drug trafficker with direct drug connections to Mexico. Taste Sr. allegedly received kilograms of narcotics every month from his drug source. The son showed undercover officers a June 8 photo of his father holding up a trash bag purportedly filled with half a million dollars in cash from drug sales. Through an introduction from Taste Jr., Taste Sr. then allegedly sold a kilogram of fentanyl to an undercover officer. The two other fugitives were taken into custody last month. Chancellor was arrested June 23. He is charged with conspiring to distribute fentanyl and distributing 40 grams or more of fentanyl. Scott, who was arrested on June 30, is charged with conspiring to possess with intent to distribute one kilogram or more of fentanyl and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. The charges against all 47 defendants were brought via 20 federal indictments and three federal criminal complaints. Indictments and criminal complaints merely contain allegations, and defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law. Deputy Criminal Chief Brent G. Tabacchi, Assistant Deputy Criminal Chief Amy M. Smith, Assistant United States Attorneys Kelly K. Rossi, Elizabeth L. McCormick, Rob Painter, Brendan Sullivan, Erica D. Lunderman, Christina E. Mahy and Ryan A. Saunders and Special Assistant United States attorney Allison Oswall are representing the United States in these cases. These cases are part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Cincinnati comprises agents and officers from federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies. # # #


title: Dayton man sentenced to federal prison after shootout on University of Dayton campus

body_text: DAYTON, Ohio – Dylan Hiner, 20, of Dayton, was sentenced in federal court here to 27 months in prison for illegally receiving a firearm or ammunition while under indictment for another felony crime. According to court documents, Hiner was attending a Halloween party on Nov. 1, 2025, at the University of Dayton. While at the party, Hiner participated in a shootout. The defendant fired multiple rounds of ammunition into the air. A student was shot in the leg by another suspect who was also firing a weapon. The Dayton Police Department and University of Dayton Police Department arrived on scene and discovered multiple rounds of ammunition and observed home surveillance footage. Video surveillance shows Hiner discharging a firearm between houses on Evanston Avenue. At the time of this incident, Hiner was under indictment in Montgomery County for allegedly carrying a concealed weapon and improperly handling a firearm in a motor vehicle and therefore was prohibited by federal law from receiving a firearm or ammunition. Hiner has been suspected of multiple shootings and other acts of violence in 2025. The United States detailed in its sentencing memorandum that Hiner was captured on surveillance and in Instagram posts possessing and firing weapons. Hiner was arrested and charged federally on Nov. 10, 2025. He pleaded guilty in this federal case in February. Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Jorge Rosendo, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF); Dayton Police Chief Eric Henderson and University of Dayton Police Chief Steve Durian announced the sentence imposed on July 14 by U.S. District Judge Michal J. Newman. Assistant United States Attorney Ryan A. Saunders is representing the United States in this case. This case is part of Operation Take Back America , a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. # # #


title: Rikers Island Correction Officer Sentenced To 15 Months In Prison For Making False Statements To Obtain Workers' Compensation Benefits Following Use-Of-Force Incidents

component: USAO - New York, Southern

body_text: United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, announced that TODD FAUSTIN, a former correction officer at Rikers Island, was sentenced today to 15 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Lewis J. Liman for making false statements relating to healthcare matters in connection with use-of-force incidents that took place within Rikers Island. As part of his sentence, FAUSTIN was ordered to pay $370,336.79 in restitution and $370,336.79 in forfeiture. “Todd Faustin lined his own pockets by exploiting one of the most sensitive interactions in our justice system: the use of physical force against prisoners,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “Our justice system relies on correction officers to act safely and honestly while serving in our prisons. Today’s sentence demonstrates that when officers abuse the system and undermine New Yorkers’ trust, they will be held criminally accountable.” According to the Indictment, plea agreement, and statements made in court: The New York State Workers’ Compensation Board (the “Board”) administers New York State’s no-fault workers’ compensation system, which guarantees medical care and cash benefits to people who are injured at work, including employees of the New York City Department of Correction (“DOC”). Payments made by the Board to DOC employees are paid from the New York City Treasury. For years, FAUSTIN was employed by the DOC as a correction officer and was assigned to work at Rikers Island. During that time, FAUSTIN falsely claimed that he was injured while on duty at Rikers Island during incidents with incarcerated individuals requiring the use of force. Rather than approaching use-of-force incidents with the gravity and sensitivity that such moments deserve, the defendant actively sought out these incidents and attempted to instigate them to steal money from the workers’ compensation system. * * * In addition to the prison term, FAUSTIN, 43, of New York, New York, was sentenced to one year of supervised release and ordered to pay restitution and forfeiture. Mr. Clayton praised the outstanding work of the New York City Department of Investigation, the New York State Office of Inspector General, and the Special Agents and Task Force Officers assigned to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York. The prosecution of this case is being handled by the Office’s Civil Rights and Human Trafficking Unit and the Public Corruption Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kaiya Arroyo and Stephanie Simon are in charge of the prosecution.


title: More Than 40 Gang Members From Newburgh And Poughkeepsie Sentenced To Prison For Racketeering, Violence, Narcotics, And Firearms Offenses

body_text: United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, announced today the last sentencing of gang members and narcotics distributors as a result of a long-running investigation conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”) in Newburgh and Poughkeepsie, New York. 26 of the defendants were convicted of being members, associates, and co-conspirators of the violent street gang the Young Gunnaz (“YG”), including YG leader Kashad Sampson. 12 of the defendants were convicted of being members and associates of the violent street gang the Double Nine Grim Reapers (“Grimz”), including Grimz leaders Jeremy Williams, Randy Jones, and James White. U.S. District Judge Kenneth M. Karas imposed the sentences in the YG case, United States v. Kashad Sampson, et al. , 22 Cr. 640, and U.S. District Judge Philip M. Halpern imposed the sentences in the Grimz case, United States v. Jeremy Williams, et al. , 22 Cr. 641. RODNEY GEORGE, a defendant in the Sampson case, was the last in this series to be sentenced and received 108 months in prison. “For years, members and associates of the Young Gunnaz and the Double Nine Grim Reapers brought shootings, armed robberies, narcotics trafficking, and fraud to communities across the Hudson Valley,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “Today’s final sentencing marks the end of a years-long prosecution that removed over 40 of these violent gang members and drug traffickers from our streets. No gang should get to claim a block, a neighborhood, or a city as its own, and this Office will continue to work with our federal, state, and local partners to dismantle violent criminal organizations and protect the communities they prey upon.” As alleged in the Indictments, other court filings, and statements made during court proceedings: Since at least 2018, the Grimz has been a brutally violent street gang. The Grimz was founded by co-defendants Jeremy Williams, a/k/a “Dubs,” and Randy Jones, a/k/a “Nickelz,” and has hundreds of members across New York State, including throughout Orange County, Dutchess County, and the New York State prison system. The Grimz is a highly organized and efficient street gang with an organizational commitment to violence that strictly enforces its internal laws and celebrates gun violence. The highest-ranking members and leaders of the Grimz, like co-defendants James White, a/k/a “Infared,” and Octavious Griffin, a/k/a “Tate,” have so-called “serial numbers” within the Grimz, which include the name of a 9-millimeter firearm. Since at least 2019, the YG has been a violent street gang that operated through New York State and engaged in large-scale narcotics trafficking, wire fraud, armed robberies, and shootings. For the most part, the YG defendants were part of the PlayBoyGzz subset of YG, which was led by, among others, co-defendant Kashad Sampson, a/k/a “Shoca.” Like the Grimz, senior members of YG glorified violence and demanded action from its members. For years, the Grimz and YG terrorized communities in this District and demonstrated a complete disregard for human life. The Grimz defendants were responsible for multiple armed robberies and shootings in the City of Newburgh, including the November 3, 2020, attempted murder of a rival gang member. During that attempted murder, which involved co-defendants Justice Jackson, a/k/a “Tweak,” Tyrell Simon, a/k/a “Rello,” a/k/a “Insane,” Thomas Rodriguez, a/k/a “Tom Tom,” a/k/a “Checks,” and others, Rodriguez shot a rival gang member multiple times while the rival gang member sat in his vehicle. The rival gang member survived after receiving life-saving medical treatment at two different hospitals. The Grimz were also responsible for trafficking large amounts of deadly narcotics, like crack cocaine and heroin, on the streets and for trafficking K2, a synthetic cannabinoid, within the New York State prison system. The YG defendants were responsible for at least approximately 13 shootings, three armed robberies, and a large-scale narcotics trafficking conspiracy responsible for flooding the streets with fentanyl, heroin, crack cocaine, and other drugs. In addition, some of the YG defendants also participated in a widespread scheme to defraud the New York state unemployment insurance program during the COVID-19 pandemic. In total, these defendants made just over $1,000,000 through this scheme and caused at least one of their victims to fall into financial ruin because, as a result of YG’s fraud, the victim lost her total disability social security payment. * * * The counts of conviction and sentences imposed on the defendants in the Sampson and Williams cases are contained in the chart below. Mr. Clayton praised the outstanding investigative work of the FBI’s Hudson Valley Safe Streets Task Force, City of Newburgh Police Department, New York State Police, Town of New Windsor Police Department, Town of Newburgh Police Department, New York City Police Department, and Nassau County Police Department. Mr. Clayton also thanked the FBI’s Westchester Safe Streets Task Force, the New York City Department of Correction, Correction Intelligence Bureau, the Department of Labor Office of the Inspector General, and the City of Poughkeepsie Police Department for their assistance in the investigation. This case is being handled by the Office’s White Plains Division. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jennifer N. Ong, Ryan W. Allison, and Margaret N. Vasu are in charge of the prosecution. United States v. Kashad Sampson, et al. , 22 Cr. 640 (KMK) Defendant Age Counts of Conviction Sentence Kashad Sampson, a/k/a “Shoca” 27 Racketeering Conspiracy Discharge of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Crime of Violence 200 months in prison Five years’ supervised release George Delgado, a/k/a “Groc” 26 Racketeering Conspiracy Assault with a Deadly Weapon in Aid of Racketeering Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime 144 months in prison Three years’ supervised release Gabriel Roman, a/k/a “Gabe” 26 Racketeering Conspiracy Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Crime of Violence Aggravated Identity Theft 160 months in prison Three years’ supervised release Dallas Archer, a/k/a “Muggas” 29 Racketeering Conspiracy Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime 90 months in prison Three years’ supervised release Bruce Allen, a/k/a “Bam” 28 Racketeering Conspiracy Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime Brandishing a Firearm in Furtherance of a Crime of Violence 154 months in prison Three years’ supervised release Syncere Tatum, a/k/a “Syn” 25 Racketeering Conspiracy Discharge of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Crime of Violence 160 months in prison Three years’ supervised release John Lalanne, a/k/a “JJ” 27 Racketeering Conspiracy Brandishing a Firearm in Furtherance of a Crime of Violence 120 months in prison Four years’ supervised release Raekwon Jackson, a/k/a “Tree” 26 Racketeering Conspiracy Discharge of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Crime of Violence 170 months in prison Four years’ supervised release Bashir Mallory, a/k/a “BG,” a/k/a “Bear” 22 Racketeering Conspiracy Discharge of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Crime of Violence 140 months in prison Five years’ supervised release Mekhi McDonald, a/k/a “Khi” 22 Racketeering Conspiracy Discharge of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Crime of Violence 168 months in prison Four years’ supervised release Christopher Tate, a/k/a “Bag” 23 Racketeering Conspiracy Narcotics Conspiracy 140 months in prison Four years’ supervised release Kristopher Burgess Cunningham, a/k/a “KG” 32 Racketeering Conspiracy Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime 90 months in prison Three years’ supervised release Dejon Scott, a/k/a “Red Dot” 30 Racketeering Conspiracy 60 months in prison Three years’ supervised release Davon Waddell, a/k/a “Spotem,” a/k/a “Light Skin Day Day” 28 Racketeering Conspiracy Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Crime of Violence Brandishing a Firearm in Furtherance of a Crime of Violence 164 months in prison Four years’ supervised release Zyrell Williams, a/k/a “Zabb” 21 Racketeering Conspiracy Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime 96 months in prison Three years’ supervised release Demetrius Ware, a/k/a “Doom Doom” 21 Racketeering Conspiracy Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime 90 months in prison Three years’ supervised release Antonio Pittman, a/k/a “Ant” 24 Racketeering Conspiracy Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Crime of Violence 84 months in prison Three years’ supervised release Daquan Cueto 24 Racketeering Conspiracy Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime 108 months in prison Three years’ supervised release Christopher Johnson, a/k/a “Brisko” 32 Brandishing a Firearm in Furtherance of a Crime of Violence and Drug Trafficking Crime Hobbs Act Robbery Narcotics Conspiracy 144 months in prison Four years’ supervised release Harry Pimentel 24 Racketeering Conspiracy Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Crime of Violence 130 months in prison Four years’ supervised release Eric Steadman, a/k/a “Little Man” 25 Racketeering Conspiracy Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Crime of Violence 120 months in prison Three years’ supervised release Donald Leid, a/k/a “Big Lip Day Day” 32 Narcotics Conspiracy Brandishing a Firearm in Furtherance of a Crime of Violence and a Drug Trafficking Crime 94 months in prison Five years’ supervised release Tevin George, a/k/a “Tev Roc” 32 Brandishing a Firearm in Furtherance of a Crime of Violence 84 months in prison Five years’ supervised release Devin Williams, a/k/a “Twin,” a/k/a “Dev” 29 Racketeering Conspiracy 54 months in prison Three years’ supervised release Dante Johnson, a/k/a “D Rose” 28 Racketeering Conspiracy 60 months in prison Three years’ supervised release George Tatum, a/k/a “Buddy” 48 Narcotics Conspiracy 140 months in prison Five years’ supervised release Coleridge Lewter, a/k/a “Korrupt” 45 Narcotics Conspiracy 72 months in prison Three years’ supervised release Rodney George, a/k/a “Taco” 49 Narcotics Conspiracy Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime 108 months in prison 5 years’ supervised release United States v. Jeremy Williams, et al. , 22 Cr. 641 (PMH) Defendant Age Counts of Conviction Sentence Jeremy Williams, a/k/a “Dubs” 37 Racketeering Conspiracy Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime 300 months in prison Three years’ supervised release James White, a/k/a “Infared” 47 Racketeering Conspiracy Narcotics Conspiracy 300 months in prison Three years’ supervised release Messiah Jackson, a/k/a “Two” 25 Racketeering Conspiracy Narcotics Conspiracy Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime 210 months in prison Five years’ supervised release Justice Jackson, a/k/a “Tweak” 25 Racketeering Conspiracy Discharge of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Crime of Violence 180 months in prison Five years’ supervised release Octavious Griffin, a/k/a “Tate” 39 Racketeering Conspiracy Brandishing a Firearm in Furtherance of a Crime of Violence 234 months’ imprisonment Five years’ supervised release Markell Williams, a/k/a “15” 25 Racketeering Conspiracy Discharge of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Crime of Violence 204 months in prison Five years’ supervised release Tyrell Simon, a/k/a “Insane,” a/k/a “Rello” 25 Racketeering Conspiracy Discharge of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Crime of Violence 180 months in prison Five years’ supervised release Joshua Hendrick. a/k/a “Hendrix” 26 Racketeering Conspiracy 121 months in prison Three years’ supervised release Elijah Briggs, a/k/a “Eli” 29 Racketeering Conspiracy 87 months in prison Three years’ supervised release Shamell Williams, a/k/a “Mello Trend” 33 Racketeering Conspiracy 87 months in prison Three years’ supervised release Thomas Rodriguez, a/k/a “Tom Tom,” a/k/a “Checks” 34 Racketeering Conspiracy Attempted Murder and Assault with a Dangerous Weapon in Aid of Racketeering Discharge of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Crime of Violence Narcotics Conspiracy Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime 360 months in prison Five years’ supervised release


title: Westfield Woman Pleads Guilty to Defrauding  Elderly Victim of More Than $500,000

body_text: INDIANAPOLIS- Shayna Williams, 51, of Westfield, has pleaded guilty to wire fraud for her role in a six‑year scheme that targeted and financially devastated an elderly victim. According to court documents, Williams was involved in a car accident with an elderly woman. Following the accident, over the course of six years, Williams defrauded the victim and the victim’s friend of $672,086 by repeatedly lying about injuries, medical conditions, and other expenses she claimed resulted from the car accident. Williams falsely asserted that her daughter had suffered severe back injuries in the accident, requiring costly surgery and specialized medical equipment, including a walker and an in‑home elevator. She also claimed that she and other family members were undergoing expensive medical treatments and were burdened with substantial medical bills. To further the scheme, Williams sent text messages to the victim while impersonating insurance agents who were supposedly negotiating with hospitals over the alleged medical bills. These messages falsely promised that the victim would be reimbursed by the insurance company if she paid Williams’s expenses. Williams also took steps to disguise her phone number to make the impersonations more convincing. The financial impact on the victim was severe. The victim took out personal loans, worked as a food delivery driver, obtained a second mortgage on her home, and borrowed money from a friend to pay the fraudulent bills. In total, the victim paid Williams more than $500,000. Despite knowing the victim was incurring significant debt, Williams continued to request additional funds and spent the money on personal expenses, including restaurants, travel, and gambling. FBI Indianapolis and the Carmel Police Department investigated this case. U.S. District Judge Sarah Evans Barker will sentence Williams at a later date. U.S. Attorney Wheeler thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Adam Eakman and Meredith Wood, who are prosecuting this case. Reporting from consumers about fraud and fraud attempts is critical to law enforcements’ efforts to investigate and prosecute schemes targeting older adults. If you or someone you know is aged 60 or older and has been a victim of financial fraud, help is available from the National Elder Fraud Hotline: 1-833 FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311). The hotline is staffed seven days a week from 6:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. [ET]. English, Spanish, and other languages are available. More information about the Department’s elder justice efforts can be found on the Department’s Elder Justice website. ###


title: FCI-Marion inmate known as “Beetlejuice” sentenced to additional prison time for producing hand-drawn child sexual abuse material

body_text: BENTON, Ill. – A district judge added 224 months of additional federal imprisonment to an FCI-Marion inmate’s sentence after he admitted to producing hand-drawn child sexual abuse material while incarcerated. Christopher L. Collins, also known as “Beetlejuice”, 42, pleaded guilty to two counts of Production of Obscene Visual Representations of the Sexual Abuse of Children and one count of Possession of Obscene Visual Representations of the Sexual Abuse of Children. In March 2025, a corrections officer at FCI-Marion located 11 hand drawings depicting adults sexually assaulting children. The images depicted drawings of children approximately 6 to 12 years old. According to court documents, Collins admitted to creating the obscene drawings and providing them to other inmates at FCI-Marion. “Christopher Collins is a serial child sex offender who continues to produce images of his grotesque fantasies of adults raping young children,” said United States Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft. “We are determined to add as much prison time as the law allows to his already lengthy sentence to ensure he never has access to children in the community ever again.” Collins is currently serving a 240-month sentence in the Bureau of Prisons at FCI-Marion. Collins has two prior felony convictions. In 2008, Collins pled guilty to one count of possession of child pornography in the Southern District of Iowa. And in 2019, Collins pled guilty to two counts for receiving child pornography and possession of obscene visual representation of the sexual abuse of children in the Southern District of Iowa. The district court ordered Collins’ new sentence to run consecutively to the undischarged time on his 2019 conviction. “Collins’ actions demonstrate a continued pattern of exploiting children, even while incarcerated. The FBI remains committed to identifying and disrupting all forms of child exploitation, whether committed in our communities or from within prison walls,” said FBI Springfield Field Office Special Agent in Charge Ryan Presley. “We will continue working with our partners to ensure that those who create or circulate materials that exploit children are held accountable.” “Inmate Collins’ actions are disgraceful and show a vile disregard for the safety and dignity of children," said BOP Director William K. Marshall III. "I commend the staff at FCI Marion for their vigilance and thank the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Illinois for its unwavering pursuit of justice. The Bureau of Prisons will never tolerate predatory behavior toward children and will always ensure offenders face the full consequences of the law.” FBI-Marion and the Bureau of Prisons led the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Sanders prosecuted the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC .


title: Correctional center employees admit to depriving inmate of civil rights

component: USAO - Illinois, Southern

body_text: BENTON, Ill. – A Correctional Officer and Correctional Lieutenant employed at Lawrence Correctional Center appeared in federal court Tuesday to admit to conspiring to deprive a restrained inmate of civil rights. Craig Muhs, 28, and Ethan Yates, 30, each pled guilty to conspiring to violate an inmate’s civil rights during an incident occurring on July 31, 2025, and during the ensuing investigation. Muhs was employed as a Correctional Officer at Lawrence Correctional Center. Yates was employed as a Correctional Lieutenant, charged with supervising other staff. Lawrence Correctional Center is a maximum-security state prison staffed by employees of the Illinois Department of Corrections. According to court documents, the incident arose from a mistaken belief that the inmate had assaulted a female employee. Yates and Muhs admitted to participating in a six-person conspiracy in which the inmate, who was restrained in a mobility chair with leg shackles and hand cuffs, was struck in the face, head, and body. The victim was also pepper sprayed in the genital region and experienced a sensation of asphyxiation after an employee poured water over the cloth spit hood covering the victim’s mouth and nose. The victim received numerous injuries, including an orbital fracture requiring reconstructive surgery. “These maximum-security correctional officers have a difficult and dangerous job, and I stand behind the men and women who work every day in these dangerous conditions surrounded by dangerous people,” said United States Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft. “By their own admissions, these two officers crossed the line into vigilantism after mistakenly believing the inmate had assaulted a female employee. Prison guards simply cannot be allowed to physically abuse a restrained inmate, and other guards who are present must protect a defenseless inmate from this type of unjustified abuse.” Muhs and Yates both admitted to striking the restrained inmate, failing to intervene when other employees severely abused the victim, failing to submit required reports regarding the incident, and failing to obtain appropriate medical attention for the victim. “ISP takes allegations of abuse very seriously and is committed to thorough investigations and accountability,” said Illinois State Police Director Brendan F. Kelly. Under federal law, officers must not only refrain from the use of excessive force, but also have a duty to intervene if a fellow officer uses excessive force. Charges of deprivation of civil rights carry potential sentences of 10 years. Muhs’s sentencing is scheduled for November 9, 2026 at 11:00 AM. Yates’s sentencing is scheduled for November 12, 2026 at 10:30 AM. Both sentencings will be held at the Benton Courthouse before Chief Judge Yandle. Illinois State Police is leading the investigation, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin Burke is prosecuting the case.


title: Multiple defendants sentenced after pleading guilty in district court

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

body_text: SAVANNAH, Georgia: Three defendants have been sentenced to prison in federal court for firearms- and drug-related charges in separate cases. The sentences were imposed in U.S. District Court and announced by Margaret E. “Meg” Heap, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. They include: Eric Lowe , 45, of Dublin, Georgia, was sentenced to 96 months in prison and a $1,500 fine followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon and Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine. In February 2023, Lowe was found in possession of a Taurus, Model 85, .38 caliber pistol during a traffic stop by Dublin Police in Laurens County. Tykez Elijahwun Davis , 30, of Dublin, was sentenced to 15 months in prison and a $1,500 fine followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. In August 2024, Davis was found to be in possession of a Rossi Model 461 .357 caliber pistol by Dublin Police in Laurens County. Corrie Devon Eady , 32, of Savannah, was sentenced to 12 months in prison followed by one year of supervised release after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. In June 2025 in Chatham County, Eady was found in possession of a stolen Ruger .380 caliber pistol during a traffic stop by Savannah Police. There is no parole in the federal system. Under federal law, it is prohibited for previously convicted felons to possess firearms or ammunition. “Illegally possessed firearms are a fast track to extended prison terms for many defendants,” said U.S. Attorney Heap. “Our law enforcement partners will investigate these cases, and they can be assured that our office will prosecute the case to the fullest extent.” The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Savannah Police Department, and the Dublin Police Department assisted in the investigation of these cases. These cases were prosecuted for the United States by Southern District of Georgia Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joshua Kyle Davis, L. Alexander Hamner, Ryan Bondura, and Patricia G. Rhodes.


title: Former executive director of Hinesville Housing Authority indicted for defrauding housing agency

body_text: 4_26cr79_indictment_as_to_melanie_s_thompson.pdf SAVANNAH, Georgia: The former executive director of the Hinesville Housing Authority (HHA) and another individual have been indicted on multiple counts of Wire Fraud and Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud. Margaret E. “Meg” Heap, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia, announced the indictments. Melanie S. Thompson , 55, of Savannah, was indicted for Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud, 19 counts of Wire Fraud, and two counts of False, Fictitious, or Fraudulent Claims. Toriono L. Byrd , 52, of Savannah, is charged in the indictment with Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud. Criminal indictments contain only charges; defendants are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty. As described in the indictment, beginning as early as September 2019 and continuing through October 2023, while employed with the HHA, Thompson is alleged to have created or authorized false invoices, directed to Byrd’s private business, which authorized payments to Byrd for work that was never completed, or in amounts that far exceeded the actual value of the work. Upon receiving these payments, Byrd is alleged to have made return payments, or kickbacks, to Thompson for her personal use and benefit. The indictment further alleges that through her role as executive director, Thompson directed multiple fraudulent payments to herself through the payroll system, directed payments of fraudulent bonuses to which she was not entitled, and that Thompson made false Covid-era loan applications to the federal government. In all, the scheme is alleged to have resulted in a loss of more than $2.5 million for the HHA. The charges carry statutory penalties upon conviction of up to 20 years in prison, along with substantial financial penalties and up to three years of supervised release upon completion of any prison term. The case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Office of Inspector General, the FBI, the U.S. Secret Service, and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and is being prosecuted for the United States by Southern District of Georgia Assistant U.S. Attorneys Darron J. Hubbard and L. Alexander Hamner.


title: Burke County Sheriff indicted by federal grand jury

body_text: 1_26cr47_indictment_as_to_alfonzo_williams.pdf SAVANNAH, Georgia: Burke County Sheriff Alfonzo Williams , 55, of Waynesboro, Georgia, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in the Southern District of Georgia on five counts of Extortion Under the Color of Official Right and one count of Transfer of a Firearm to a Convicted Felon. The indictment, returned by the July term of the grand jury, alleges the offenses occurred from August 2021 to April 2022, with the indictment asserting that Williams requested and accepted monetary payments from five individuals in exchange for dismissing pending citations for driving under the influence. Additionally, the indictment charges that in January 2023, Williams provided a firearm to an individual previously convicted of a felony. Criminal indictments contain only charges; defendants are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty. The extortion charges each carry a statutory penalty upon conviction of up to 20 years in prison, along with substantial financial penalties and up to three years of supervised release upon completion of any prison term. The firearms charge carries a statutory penalty upon conviction of up to 15 years in prison, along with substantial financial penalties and up to three years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system. This case is being investigated by the FBI and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation and prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tara M. Lyons and Timothy P. Dean.


title: Sioux Falls Woman Sentenced to Over 4 Years in Federal Prison for Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance

component: USAO - South Dakota

body_text: PIERRE - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Eric C. Schulte has sentenced a Sioux Falls, South Dakota woman convicted of Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance. The sentencing took place on July 6, 2026. Brenda Fernandez, age 52, was sentenced to four years and one month in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, $ 1,000 fine, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Fernandez was indicted by a federal grand jury in October 2025. She pleaded guilty on April 8, 2026. The conviction stems from a traffic stop on September 1, 2024, in the Cheyenne River Sioux Indian Reservation during which officers recovered 34 grams of pure methamphetamine, a scale, baggies and a drug ledger in Fernandez’s possession. Fernandez was intending to distribute the methamphetamine within the reservation. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). This case was investigated by the Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety, Dewey County Sheriff’s Office, Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services, FBI, and DEA. Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan Dilges prosecuted the case. Fernandez was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.


title: Rapid City Man Sentenced to 5 Years in Federal Prison  for Possessing a Firearm as a Felon

body_text: RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Court Judge Camela C. Theeler has sentenced a Rapid City, South Dakota, man convicted of Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person. The sentencing took place on July 13, 2026. Aaron England, 30, was sentenced to 5 years in federal prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. England was indicted for Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person by a federal grand jury in January 2025. He pleaded guilty on April 13, 2026. On July 23, 2024, in Rapid City, SD, law enforcement initiated a traffic stop on a vehicle England was driving. England failed to immediately stop. He later parked the car and fled from law enforcement on foot. On the floorboard of the driver’s side, law enforcement found a stolen pistol along with drug paraphernalia, which England had been in possession of before fleeing. England was later caught and arrested. England had been convicted of a crime punishable beyond a year in prison. As a result, he was a convicted felon prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). Through PSN, the District of South Dakota seeks to bring together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce gun violence and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Rapid City Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Schroeder prosecuted the case. England was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.


title: Pukwana, SD Duo Sentenced to Federal Prison  for Embezzlement and Theft from an Indian Tribal Organization

body_text: SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Eric C. Schulte has sentenced a Pukwana, South Dakota, man and woman, each of whom was earlier convicted of Embezzlement and Theft from Indian Tribal Organization. The sentencing took place on June 29, 2026. Kyle James Loudner, age 40, was sentenced to one year and six months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release. Restitution was also ordered for $160,000. Talyn Ashley Douville, age 34, was sentenced to six months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release. Restitution was also ordered for $160,000. The two were jointly indicted by a federal grand jury in May 2025. Loudner pleaded guilty on March 30, 2026, and Douville pleaded guilty on April 6, 2026. Between May 27, 2022, and July 2, 2024, Loudner, an elected official, and Douville, a tribal employee, embezzled approximately $160,000 belonging to the Crow Creek Sioux Tribe. According to Loudner’s and Douville’s admissions in court, on May 3, 2022, Loudner was elected to the CCST Tribal Council. Following his election, he and Douville established three different checking accounts. Between May 27, 2022, just weeks after his election, and July 2, 2024, nearly 100 checks were drawn out of government checking accounts that were made payable to Loudner, to Douville, to both defendants, or to cash. Each defendant signed many of these checks, and they embezzled funds totaling $160,000. “Make no mistake about it,” said U.S. Attorney Parsons. “Stealing from the government, including tribal governments, will land you in prison.” This case was investigated by the FBI and the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeremy R. Jehangiri prosecuted the case. Loudner and Douville will report to the U.S. Marshals Service to begin serving their federal sentences in July 2026.