title: German Subsidiary in Peachtree City Settles PPP Fraud Claim for $2.6 Million

component: USAO - Georgia, Northern

body_text: NEWNAN, Ga. - Universal Environmental Services, LLC (“UES”), a Peachtree City, Georgia-based subsidiary of a large German conglomerate, will pay $2.6 million to resolve allegations that the company violated the False Claims Act in connection with applying and obtaining forgiveness for a loan under the COVID-era Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”). “When people provide false information to obtain government-backed loans, they break the law and misdirect resources away from those who need them,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “Our office will continue to enforce the False Claims Act to recover such funds, plus penalties.” The government’s investigation arose after a whistleblower filed a complaint alleging that, in 2020, UES applied for a second-draw loan under the PPP. Such loans were only offered to “small” businesses, which the program rules and loan application defined to mean businesses that employed fewer than 300 employees, including all members of the corporate family. UES is a subsidiary of a large German conglomerate, the Avista Oil Group, and the entire corporate family employs well over 300 employees. Yet UES stated on the loan application that it employed 287 employees, a figure that reflected only its domestic employees. Based on this incorrect information, a bank approved an approximately $2 million loan, which the Small Business Administration (“SBA”) later paid off at taxpayers’ expense. Under the False Claims Act, private citizens may bring suit for false claims on behalf of the United States and share in any recovery obtained by the government. The whistleblower will receive $312,000 from the settlement. UES will also pay the whistleblower’s attorney fees. The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability. This civil settlement resolves a lawsuit filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia under the qui tam or whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act, United States ex rel. Verity Investigations LLC v. Universal Environmental Services, LLC , No. 3:24-cv-00109-LMM. The investigation and resolution of this matter was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Anthony DeCinque. Former Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicole Karem also participated in the investigation, with assistance from the SBA’s Office of General Counsel. Anyone with information about allegations of attempted Pandemic Program fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at (866) 720-5721 or via the SBA Office of the Inspector General Complaint Submission at: https://sbax.sba.gov/oigcss . For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6185. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga .


title: Local Man Sentenced to Decade in Federal Prison for Attempted Sex Trafficking of a Minor in Pensacola

component: USAO - Florida, Northern

body_text: Pensacola, Florida – Christopher W. Glover, 47, of Simms, Alabama, was sentenced to ten years in federal prison for one count of attempted sex trafficking of a minor, and one count of traveling in interstate commerce to engage in illicit sexual conduct. The sentence was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida. U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “This case is a reminder that parents need to be aware of the online threats facing our kids from sexual predators, like this defendant, who seek to sexually exploit and victimize children. Our state and federal law enforcement partners are relentless in their pursuit of these sick individuals preying upon our kids, and my office will continue to follow through on those investigations and arrests with aggressive prosecutions to keep our children safe online.” Court documents and pretrial hearings revealed that Glover communicated with who he believed to be a 14-year-old female and offered to pay her hundreds of dollars in return for sexual acts in October 2025. Glover then traveled from Alabama, where he worked for the Baldwin County School District, to Pensacola to meet with the minor. The purported minor, however, was an undercover law enforcement officer. When Glover reached Pensacola to engage in the sexual acts with the child, he was taken into custody. He possessed over $200 in cash in order to pay for the illicit sexual acts. “This case demonstrates the unwavering dedication of our investigators, whose meticulous undercover work helped secure a 10‑year federal prison sentence and protect future victims,” said FDLE Commissioner Mark Glass. “Their steadfast determination is a powerful reminder of what can be achieved when law enforcement works tirelessly to pursue justice, making our communities safer and uphold the values we stand for every day." Glover’s term of imprisonment will be followed by ten years of supervised release. Glover will also be required to register as a sex offender. The case was jointly investigated by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations, Florida Highway Patrol, and the United States Marshals Service. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys David L. Goldberg and Jessica S. Etherton. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC . The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl .


title: Crawfordville Man Indicted for Federal Firearm Offenses

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

body_text: Tallahassee, Florida – Todd James Mitchell, 54, of Crawfordville, Florida, has been indicted in federal court for possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon and possession of an unregistered firearm silencer. John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida announced the charge. Mitchell appeared in federal court for his arraignment before United States Magistrate Judge Martin A. Fitzpatrick in Tallahassee, Florida. Jury trial is scheduled for September 8, 2026, at 8:30 a.m. before Chief District Court Judge Allen C. Winsor in Tallahassee, Florida. If convicted, Mitchell faces up to 15 years’ imprisonment for possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon. He faces up to 10 years’ imprisonment for possession of an unregistered firearm silencer. The case was investigated by the Wakulla County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney James A. McCain. An indictment is merely an allegation by a grand jury that a defendant has committed a violation of federal criminal law and is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial. This case is part of Operation Take Back America , a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl .


title: Sacramento Resident Pleads Guilty To Bank And Tax Fraud Scheme Involving The Submission Of Fraudulent PPP Loan Applications

component: USAO - California, Northern

body_text: OAKLAND – Anthony West pled guilty today to one count of bank fraud and one count of aiding the filing of a false tax return, U.S. Attorney Craig H. Missakian announced. West, 59, of Sacramento, California, was charged by Information on June 9, 2026, with one count of bank fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1344, and one count of aiding the filing of a false tax return, in violation 26 U.S.C. § 7206(2). In pleading guilty to the charges in the Information, West admitted that from April 2020 through February 2021, he submitted multiple false Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan applications with various federally insured banks. During the same period, he also submitted multiple false Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) applications with the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). These applications claimed that West owned multiple businesses, including a freight logistics company, car dealership, and multimedia company. In reality, West’s businesses were shell companies with no legitimate employees and no payroll expenses. In total, West attempted to obtain $1,321,279 from his false PPP and EIDL applications and actually obtained $571,179. Upon receiving the loan proceeds, West used the funds for his own personal enrichment and living expenses. As part of his scheme, West aided the filing of a false tax return that claimed nearly one million dollars in nonexistent revenues. The return was part of an effort by West to make one of his businesses appear to be legitimate to the SBA, even though it had no real business activity, no revenues, and no employees. United States Attorney Craig H. Missakian and IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) San Francisco Field Office Acting Special Agent in Charge David Lowe made the announcement. West’s sentencing hearing is scheduled for December 14, 2026, before United States District Judge Araceli Martínez-Olguín. West faces a maximum statutory penalty of 30 years in prison and a $1,000,000 fine on the bank fraud count and a maximum statutory penalty of three years in prison and a $100,000 fine on the tax fraud count. Any sentence will be imposed by the Court after consideration of the United States Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553. Assistant United States Attorney Abraham Fine is prosecuting the case with the assistance of Amala James. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by IRS-CI.


title: Houston Pair Admit To Conspiring To Defraud DoorDash By Impersonating Delivery Drivers

body_text: OAKLAND – Evan Edwards pleaded guilty in federal court today to conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Her co-defendant, Oluwatobi Otukelu, previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit computer fraud and abuse, and was sentenced on June 22, 2026, to 24 months in federal prison for his role in the conspiracies. U.S. District Judge Araceli Martínez-Olguín handed down the sentence. Edwards, 26 and Otukelu, 26, both of Houston, Texas, were indicted by a federal grand jury on September 17, 2024. Edwards pleaded guilty to one count of violating 18 U.S.C. § 1349 today, and Otukelu pleaded guilty to one count of violating 18 U.S.C. § 1349 and one count of violating 18 U.S.C. § 371 on April 20, 2026. In pleading guilty, Edwards and Otukelu both admitted to conspiring with each other and other co-conspirators to steal wages from DoorDash contractors known as “Dashers.” Specifically, Edwards and Otukelu admitted that they used the personal identifying information of Dasher victims without authorization to falsely impersonate Dashers to DoorDash support, take over Dashers’ online accounts, create unauthorized accounts, and direct payments of Dasher wages to accounts they controlled. Edwards and Otukelu also admitted to using the stolen funds to pay for goods and services, including vehicles, airline tickets, cosmetic procedures, and personal training. Otukelu admitted that he and his co-conspirators stole at least $743,235.55 from Dasher victims and attempted to obtain at least an additional $69,276.30. Edwards agreed that she and Otukelu obtained at least $160,115. Both admitted to stealing from at least 138 individual Dasher victims. Edwards’ sentencing hearing is scheduled for November 9, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. before Judge Martínez-Olguín. She faces a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years of imprisonment and a fine for the violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1349. Any sentence will be imposed by the court after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553. United States Attorney Craig H. Missakian and FBI Special Agent in Charge Scott Schelble made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michelle J. Kane and Anupam Dhillon are prosecuting the case with the assistance of Soana Katoa. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.


title: U.S. Attorney Phillip W. Williams Jr. Announces Promotions and Organizational Changes within the Northern District of Alabama

component: USAO - Alabama, Northern

body_text: BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – U.S. Attorney Phillip W. Williams Jr. today announced changes in management personnel for the district. “From day-one on the job I have been impressed with the caliber of personnel in the U.S. Attorney’s Office. These promotions are well earned!” said Williams. “Additionally, it is my sense that a refined focus on national security and homeland defense issues is warranted. I am pleased to bring that into reality with the advent of a newly formed National Security section in our Criminal Division.” U.S. Attorney Williams’ first order of business was to establish senior leadership. Catherine L. Crosby will remain the First Assistant U.S. Attorney (FAUSA) for the district. For the past five months, Catherine has served as the FAUSA while simultaneously serving as the Criminal Division Chief, Executive Assistant U.S. Attorney, and for three months as the Acting U.S. Attorney. Deputy Chief Kristy Peoples has been chosen to serve as Executive Assistant U.S. Attorney (EAUSA). In this role, she will supervise employees in the Discovery Center, Law Enforcement Coordination Committee, and a new media department. The EAUSA will also serve in many ways as the Ambassador for the office to local, state, and federal law enforcement and District Attorneys. And she will work with the U.S. Attorney and FAUSA on special projects, while maintaining a select docket of cases. Deputy Chief Jonathan B. Ward has been chosen to serve as the Criminal Division Chief. The Criminal Division is growing in size with the addition of more Assistant United States Attorneys (AUSAs), a new National Security Section, two Senior Litigation Counsel (SLC), Asset Forfeiture, and the Victims’ Team. AUSA Brittany Byrd will serve as Deputy Chief over the Violent Crime Section, and AUSA Daniel McBrayer will serve as Deputy Chief over the White-Collar Fraud Section. Deputy Chiefs will also manage paralegals assigned to their sections and maintain cases of their own. AUSA Will McComb will serve as a second Senior Litigation Counsel, alongside SLC Ryan Rummage. The two prosecutors will assist all AUSAs with best practices and strategies and work alongside newer AUSAs for mentorship. Effective July 26, 2026, U.S. Attorney Williams is standing up a new National Security Section of the Criminal Division. AUSA Henry Cornelius will serve as the National Security Section’s first Deputy Chief. AUSAs in the National Security Section will be the primary points of contact for national security cases. “Strong leadership is essential to the success of any organization,” said Williams. “I am confident these leaders will continue to bring the experience, integrity, and dedication necessary to move our office forward.” The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Alabama represents the interests of the United States in federal court in a broad array of federal crimes and the litigation of civil matters. The Northern District is the largest of three districts in the State of Alabama. It has a population of more than 2.8 million, encompasses 31 of the state’s 67 counties, and contains 2 of the state’s most populous cities, Birmingham and Huntsville. Staff serve in the headquarters office in Birmingham and a branch office in Huntsville. U.S. Attorney Williams, who was sworn in as the presidentially appointed, senate confirmed U.S. Attorney in May 2026, serves as the top-ranking federal law enforcement official in the district.


title: Red Lake Man Sentenced to 41 Months’ Imprisonment for Domestic Assault by a Habitual Offender

component: USAO - Minnesota

body_text: MINNEAPOLIS – United States Attorney Daniel N. Rosen announced today that Allen Robert Cloud, 46, has been sentenced to 41 months’ imprisonment for domestic assault by a habitual offender. Cloud was sentenced by Chief U.S. District Judge Eric C. Tostrud on July 23, 2026. According to court documents, on July 11, 2025, Cloud violently assaulted his long‑term partner, Victim 1, on the Red Lake Indian Reservation. After locating Victim 1 at a neighbor’s home, where she had been hiding from him, Cloud pushed her, kicked her, and pulled her hair. Cloud then forced Victim 1 to leave the neighbor’s house and prevented her from escaping. When Cloud fell asleep, Victim 1 again attempted to flee, but Cloud chased her down and struck Victim 1 on the head with a piece of concrete. Emergency medical services later arranged for Victim 1 to be airlifted to a nearby hospital. Prior to the July 2025 assault, Cloud had at least five Tribal Court convictions for Criminal Domestic Violence and Stalking involving domestic assaults committed between April 2010 and April 2023, all involving Victim 1. Cloud pleaded guilty in December 2025 to one count of domestic assault by a habitual offender resulting in substantial bodily harm. “The courage of victims to seek assistance in domestic assault situations is critical to holding offenders accountable. My office remains committed to preventing domestic violence and safeguarding those who have been victimized,” said United States Attorney Daniel N. Rosen. This case was investigated by the Red Lake Police Department and the FBI. Assistant United States Attorney Garrett S. Fields prosecuted the case.


title: Inver Grove Heights Man Sentenced to 54 Months’ Imprisonment for Being a Felon in Possession of Stolen Firearms

body_text: MINNEAPOLIS – United States Attorney Daniel N. Rosen announced that Raul Gutierrez, Jr., 33, of Inver Grove Heights, was sentenced to 54 months’ imprisonment for being a felon in possession of firearms. He was sentenced before U.S. District Judge John R. Tunheim on July 27, 2026. According to court documents, on January 14, 2026, Gutierrez participated in a violent civil disturbance in Minneapolis where he and others broke into a vehicle belonging to the FBI. When his accomplice arrived, the vehicle was already extensively damaged, and the rear hatch was open. The accomplice broke into a vault in the cargo area of the vehicle and removed a rifle bag and a satchel of ammunition. The bag contained a semiautomatic rifle and a silencer, both of which are firearms under federal law. The accomplice gave the bag to Gutierrez, who took it to his car and drove away. Gutierrez abandoned the firearms a short time later, and his accomplice took the firearms to his home. Before Gutierrez possessed the rifle and silencer, he had been convicted of burglary of a building in Dunn County, Wisconsin, and domestic assault-strangulation in Ramsey County, Minnesota. Both of those are felony convictions that barred Gutierrez from possessing firearms. “Today’s sentencing reflects my office’s commitment to taking dangerous individuals off the streets and protecting the people of Minnesota. Stealing FBI firearms during a violent disturbance poses an unacceptable risk to public safety, and we will continue working with our federal partners to hold offenders accountable,” said United States Attorney Daniel N. Rosen. “Today's sentence underscores the fact that violence, theft, and damage to public property have no place in lawful protests,” said FBI Minneapolis Field Office Special Agent in Charge Christopher D. Dotson. “To the contrary, criminal behavior like the theft of law enforcement weapons endangers the law-abiding public engaged in First Amendment expression. As we work to uphold the Constitution and protect the public, the FBI and our federal, state, and local partners will not tolerate dangerous and destructive behavior. This sentence proves there are serious consequences for those who seek to use lawful demonstrations as a cover for criminal behavior.” “When a convicted felon took possession of a stolen FBI rifle and silencer, the danger extended far beyond the scene of the unrest,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Spence Burnett of the ATF St. Paul Field Division. “ATF, working alongside members of the Hennepin County Violent Offender Task Force, located and arrested Gutierrez just hours after the firearm was stolen. The U.S. Attorney’s Office carried the case forward in court, and this sentence holds Gutierrez accountable for the danger his actions created in the community.” Gutierrez pleaded guilty on May 5, 2026. His accomplice, Alexio Miranda, pleaded guilty to possessing a stolen firearm on June 26, 2026, and his sentencing is scheduled for October 28, 2026. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Hennepin County Violent Offender Task Force. Assistant United States Attorney Campbell Warner and Special Assistant United States Attorney Jeanne Semivan are prosecuting this case. Note: Previous press release on Gutierrez’s accomplice here .


title: Man Sentenced to 57 Months’ Imprisonment For Homicide By Vehicle While DUI at National Park

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Middle

body_text: SCRANTON - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Christopher M. Thomas, of Bushkill, Pennsylvania, was sentenced on July 22, 2026, to 57 months’ imprisonment by United States District Judge Karoline Mehlachick for homicide by vehicle while driving under the influence. According to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, in June 2024, Thomas was driving his vehicle through the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area while high on methamphetamine. Multiple cars and two motorcycles had come to a stop more than 400 feet in front of Thomas to let deer cross the road. Thomas did not stop but continued to travel at a high rate of speed. Thomas crashed full speed into one of the motorcyclists, who was pronounced dead on scene. A subsequent blood draw from Thomas and forensic analysis revealed Thomas had significant levels of amphetamine and methamphetamine in his blood. In imposing the sentence at the top of Thomas’s sentencing guideline range, Judge Mehalchick noted the serious and deadly nature of the offense, the need to provide just punishment, and the need to deter Thomas and others from committing similar offenses. The National Park Service and the Pennsylvania State Police investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Kyle A. Moreno prosecuted the case. # # #


title: California Man Sentenced in Connection With Cross-Country Money Laundering Conspiracy

component: USAO - Maryland

body_text: Baltimore, Maryland – A federal judge sentenced a California man, today, for his involvement in a cross-country money laundering conspiracy involving proceeds from marijuana trafficking. U.S. District Judge Matthew J. Maddox sentenced Nicholas Parks, 54, of Winnetka, California, to three years in federal prison, followed by one year of supervised release, for conspiring to commit money laundering. Judge Maddox also ordered Parks to pay a forfeiture amount of $329,071. Parks, who pled guilty to the charges in April 2026, acknowledged that he and his co-conspirators laundered $329,071, between October 2020 and January 2021, in connection with the scheme. Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the sentence with Special Agent in Charge Akil Baldwin, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) – Maryland. According to court documents, Parks admitted that from October 2020 through January 2021, he participated in a conspiracy to launder proceeds he and his associates generated through selling marijuana in Maryland. As part of the conspiracy, female co-conspirators transported marijuana from California to Maryland, usually via commercial air travel. Parks traveled separately from the co-conspirators to Maryland, but he sold the marijuana with local co-conspirators after arrival. When the co-conspirators finished distributing the drugs, Co-Conspirator 1 used a couple of methods to launder the funds. Co-Conspirator 1 either drove U.S. currency across the country to California or provided the proceeds to a Maryland laundering contact. The contact then moved the money through financial institutions, resulting in two levels, or layers, of laundering transactions. HSI agents identified several occasions that the co-conspirators laundered marijuana trafficking proceeds. Law enforcement used evidence obtained through multiple methods, including controlled money pick-ups, text messages between co-conspirators, along with recorded calls and meetings, to link the co-conspirators to the conspiracy. On October 15, 2020, Texas Highway Patrol conducted a traffic stop of Co-Conspirator 1 in Carson County, Texas. During the stop, officers recovered approximately $109,071 in U.S. currency from Co-Conspirator 1’s vehicle. Officers also seized Co-Conspirator 1’s cell phone. Following a search of Co-Conspirator 1’s phone, law enforcement uncovered a lengthy text message exchange between Parks and Co-Conspirator 1. The text-message exchange appeared to show Parks’ involvement in the money laundering and drug trafficking conspiracy. Messages included detailed ledgers of drug sales Parks and his associates conducted along with the money owed to each of them for their participation. The most recent messages showed that Parks provided Co-Conspirator 1 with U.S. currency to transport from Maryland back to California. Additionally, the text messages revealed that Co-Conspirator 1 was supposed to drop off a portion of the proceeds to a location in Oklahoma. Based on the messages, the amount of U.S. currency found in Co-Conspirator 1’s vehicle was consistent with the remaining money bound for California and money he was paid for his services. Co-Conspirator 1 later confirmed to HSI agents that the money found in his vehicle consisted of proceeds from the marijuana trafficking conspiracy in Maryland. He also admitted he was driving the money back to California and was supposed to make a drop in Oklahoma. Then between December 2020, and January 2021, HSI agents conducted three controlled money pick-ups. Co-Conspirator 1 unknowingly provided the drug proceeds to confidential informants (CIs) to launder funds from Maryland to California. On each occasion, Co-Conspirator 1 provided U.S. currency to one of two CIs, who then provided the funds to HSI agents. HSI agents then deposited the funds into an HSI Riverside government-controlled bank account. Then the HSI agents withdrew the cash and utilized undercovers and/or cooperating witnesses to deliver the funds to co-conspirators in California. Over the course of the three controlled money drops, Co-Conspirator 1 provided the CIs with approximately $220,000. U.S. Attorney Hayes commended HSI for its work in the investigation and Texas Highway Patrol for its valuable assistance. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander Levin who prosecuted the case. For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit justice.gov/usao-md . # # #


title: Retired Massachusetts State Police Sergeant Sentenced for PPP Fraud

component: USAO - Massachusetts

body_text: BOSTON – A retired Sergeant for the Massachusetts State Police was sentenced on Wednesday, July 22, 2026, for fraudulently obtaining a Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan, which was later forgiven. Damian Halfkenny, 54, of Boston, was sentenced by U.S. Senior District Court Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton to one year of probation. The defendant was also ordered to pay a fine of $5,000, restitution in the amount of $21,333 and forfeiture of $21,333. In April 2026 , Halfkenny was charged with one count of wire fraud. In 2021, Halfkenny was employed full-time as a Sergeant with the Massachusetts State Police earning $160,378 per year. He also owned and rented several real estate properties in Boston. In March 2021, Halfkenny submitted a PPP loan application for his real estate business, falsely representing that he had a monthly payroll expense of $8,488. In support of this application, Halfkenny provided a fabricated IRS Schedule C. Based on his misrepresentations, the U.S. Small Business Administration issued Halfkenny, and later forgave, a $21,220 PPP loan. United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christine Wichers of the Public Corruption & Special Prosecutions Unit prosecuted the case.


title: Former Federal Law Enforcement Officer Agrees to Plead Guilty

body_text: BOSTON – A former U.S. Postal Inspector – a federal law enforcement officer authorized to carry a firearm, make arrests and execute search warrants – has agreed to plead guilty to allegedly stealing over $330,000 in cash from packages mailed by elderly victims and then laundering the cash and failing to report it to the Internal Revenue Service. The defendant allegedly used the stolen cash to pay for a pool patio, granite countertop for his outdoor bar, lighting for his pool and bar, Caribbean cruise expenses, and escorts. Scott Kelley, 52, of Pembroke, Mass., has agreed to plead guilty to 44 counts of a 45-count indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Boston. Specifically, Kelley has agreed to plead guilty to five counts of wire fraud; five counts of mail fraud; five counts of mail theft by a postal officer; 23 counts of money laundering; one count of structuring to evade reporting requirements; and five counts of filing false tax returns. U.S. District Judge Allison D. Burroughs has scheduled a change-of-plea hearing for July 29, 2026, at 1:00 pm. Kelley was a Postal Inspector at the Boston Division headquarters of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the law enforcement arm of the Postal Service. In 2015, Kelley became the Team Leader of the Mail Fraud Unit, which, among other things, investigated lottery and other scams that targeted senior citizens and other vulnerable populations. According to the indictment, between January 2019 and Aug. 11, 2023, Kelley used deceptive emails to cause unwitting postal employees to intercept packages that a USPIS algorithm had flagged as likely having been mailed by scam victims, and send them to him. In total, Kelley allegedly requested that approximately 1,950 packages be intercepted and mailed to him. It is alleged that Kelley opened intercepted parcels that looked or felt like they might contain cash, and stole any cash inside. The indictment identifies seven victims who were scammed into mailing cash in parcels that Kelley allegedly intercepted and opened, and that he stole the cash inside. The average age of the victims was 75, with the oldest victim being 82. The victims mailed between $1,400 and $19,100 cash. One victim died after Kelley was indicted. The charges of wire fraud each provide for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charges of mail fraud each provide for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of theft of government money provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charges of money laundering each provide for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $500,000, or twice the value of the property involved in the transaction, whichever is greater. The charge of structuring provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, up to one year of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charges of false tax returns each provide for a sentence of up to three years in prison, up to one year of supervised release and a fine of up to $100,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case. United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Michael Ray, Special Agent in Charge, Office of Professional Responsibility, Technical and Sensitive Operations Field Office, U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General; and Tom Demeo, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigation in Boston made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christine Wichers and Eric L. Hawkins of the Criminal Division are prosecuting the case. The details contained in the indictment are allegations. The defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in the court of law.


title: Convicted Felon Pleads Guilty to Leaving a Residential Re-Entry Center

body_text: BOSTON – A Boston man has pleaded guilty in federal court in Boston to leaving a residential re-entry center where he was serving the remainder of his federal sentence after being convicted of being a felon in possession of ammunition. Tyreek Hall, 23, pleaded guilty on July 23, 2026 to escape. U.S. Senior District Court Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV scheduled sentencing for Oct. 15, 2026. Hall was charged in February 2026 . According to the charging documents, in May 2024 , Hall was sentenced in the District of Massachusetts to 46 months in prison for illegally possessing ammunition while on parole as a convicted felon. In July 2025, Hall was transferred from a correctional institution to a residential re-entry center in Boston to serve the remainder of his confined sentence. As part of the reentry program, Hall was employed as a “part-time vehicle cleaner.” At approximately 11 p.m. on Sept. 7, 2025, when Hall returned to the residential re-entry center from work, staff conducted a breathalyzer test as part of their standard security screening. Hall tested positive, refused a subsequent breathalyzer test and refused to submit to a urinalysis test. After his refusals, Hall was allowed to go to his living quarters. At approximately 11:56 p.m., Hall returned to the front desk and walked out of the front door. Hall did not return to the residential re-entry center and was considered an active escape from federal custody until his apprehension. The charging statute provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based on the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Acting U.S. Marshal for the District of Massachusetts Dennis Matulewicz made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by the Massachusetts State Police and the Boston Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney John Dawley of the Organized Crime and Gang Unit prosecuted the case.


title: Haysville man instructed Australian to create and send him child pornography

component: USAO - Kansas

body_text: WICHITA, KAN. – A Kansas man was sentenced to 210 months in prison followed by a lifetime of supervised release after he directed a foreign national living in another country to create child sexual abuse material (CSAM) and send him the images. According to court documents, Ronald Waltrip, 62, of Haysville pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit sexual exploitation of a child – production of child pornography. Waltrip used a social media account to exchange messages with an adult male in Australia. The messages show that Waltrip asked about a six-year-old child who was in the man’s custody and directed him to engage in sexual acts with the child. The man complied and at Waltrip’s request, created images of the child sexual abuse. The Australian man sent CSAM recordings to Waltrip. “Waltrip and his co-conspirator may be on different continents, but they share the same evil fantasies. Waltrip’s crime is so egregious that even after he gets out of prison, he will be under the supervision of probationary officers for the rest of his life,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan A. Kriegshauser. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the Kansas Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force, and Wichita Police Department investigated the case. Project Safe Childhood 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 https://www.justice.gov/psc . ###


title: Man who led drug trafficking conspiracy while incarcerated sentenced to over 18 additional years in prison in Homeland Security Task Force case

body_text: NORFOLK, Va. – Terrance Edward Brown, 44, of Hampton Roads, was sentenced today to 18 years and 8 months in prison for conspiracy to manufacture, distribute, and possess with intent to distribute cocaine, fentanyl, para-fluorofentanyl, and heroin and conspiracy to launder money. According to court documents, in 2013, Brown was sentenced to 16 years and eight months in prison for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine. Beginning in 2022 while Brown was incarcerated, he, along with Sylvia Naupendai Bryant and Felisa Alexander, procured cocaine, heroin, fentanyl, and para-fluorofentanyl from out-of-state sources and had it shipped in wholesale quantities to Virginia. At Brown’s direction, Bryant and Alexander supplied those narcotics to, among others, Donte Antrell Cartwright, Rudy Malik Collick, Brandon Rashad Hargrow, Marlow Rodrico Malone, Marquis Ryan Scott, Sherrod Demaine Benns, Brehon Kanell Davis, Terry Damaine Burke, and David Liequan Hairston for further distribution. From June 2022 to Dec. 13, 2023, Brown and his co-conspirators sent at least $1,147,768 in drug proceeds via electronic money transfers, bank deposits, and bulk cash shipments to both U.S. citizens and foreign nationals. Bryant was sentenced on June 9 to two years and six months in prison. Cartwright was sentenced on May 26 to seven years and eight months in prison. Collick was sentenced on Jan. 22 to 14 years in prison. Hargrow was sentenced on Jan. 22 to seven years and six months in prison. Malone was sentenced on May 13 to 11 years and eight months in prison. Scott was sentenced on May 7 to six years in prison. Benns was sentenced on Jan. 13 to five years and 10 months in prison. Burke was sentenced on May 14 to two years and six months in prison. Hairston was sentenced on July 21 to six years and three months in prison. Davis is currently awaiting sentencing. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Washington, D.C.; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Washington Field Division; the FBI’s Norfolk Field Office; the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS); the Federal Bureau of Prisons National Gang Unit; Coast Guard Investigative Service (CGIS); and the Norfolk Police Department investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Darryl J. Mitchell prosecuted the case. This case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Washington, D.C., comprises agents and officers from the FBI; HSI; ATF; Drug Enforcement Administration; Diplomatic Security Service; USMS; CGIS; Naval Criminal Investigative Service; Transportation Security Administration Federal Air Marshals Service; U.S. Customs and Border Protection; Enforcement and Removal Operations; and Washington Baltimore HIDTA, with the prosecution being led by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:25-cr-53.


title: Murray County Resident Sentenced For Illegally Possessing Firearm

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Leran Ortiz Pittman, 42, of Davis, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 15 months in prison for one count of Felon in Possession of Firearm. The charge arose from an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Davis Police Department. On October 21, 2025, Pittman pleaded guilty to the charge. According to investigators, Pittman knowingly possessed a semi-automatic pistol on January 7, 2025, after having been previously convicted of a crime punishable by more than one year imprisonment. Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice’s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys’ offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department’s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump’s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities. The Honorable Ronald A. White, Senior Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. Pittman will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lewis M. Reagan represented the United States.


title: Eufaula Resident Sentenced For Distributing Methamphetamine

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Frank William Shouse, 69, of Eufaula, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 70 months in prison for one count of Distribution of Methamphetamine, and 70 months in prison for one count of Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine. The Court ordered the terms to be served concurrently. The charges arose from an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics, the Pittsburg County Sheriff’s Office, the McIntosh County Sheriff’s Office, and the District 18 District Attorney’s Office. On October 21, 2025, Shouse pleaded guilty to the charges in federal district court. According to investigators, on August 21, 2025, Shouse knowingly and intentionally distributed approximately an ounce of a substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine, a Schedule II controlled substance, from his Eufaula residence. On August 29, 2025, agents executed a search warrant at Shouse’s residence and discovered approximately two and one-half ounces of a substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine packaged for distribution in multiple small baggies. The Honorable Ronald A. White, Senior Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. Shouse will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration. Assistant U.S. Attorney Rob Wallace represented the United States.


title: Gunman Pleads Guilty to Daytime Robbery of Brinks Armored Truck in Queens

component: USAO - New York, Eastern

body_text: Earlier today, in federal court in Brooklyn, David Ortiz pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bank robbery, bank robbery, and brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence in connection with the gunpoint robbery of a Brinks armored truck transporting money belonging to a Bank of America branch. The proceeding was held before United States Magistrate Judge Peggy Kuo. When sentenced, Ortiz faces a mandatory minimum sentence of seven years’ imprisonment for brandishing a firearm, in addition to any sentence imposed for the bank robbery charges, and restitution. Joseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, James C. Barnacle, Jr., Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), and Jessica S. Tisch, Commissioner, New York City Police Department (NYPD), announced the guilty plea. “The defendant planned and carried out a violent armed robbery in broad daylight, threatening Brinks armored truck employees with a firearm while stealing more than half a million dollars destined for a neighborhood bank,” stated United States Attorney Nocella. “This calculated crime may have looked like a scene out a movie, but it was terrifyingly real, and placed the victims in fear for their lives. Today’s guilty plea ensures that the defendant will face the consequences of his violent actions.” "This was a brazen, violent crime that put innocent people in immediate danger. The FBI and NYPD moved quickly to track down David Ortiz to ensure he faced federal charges,” stated FBI Assistant Director in Charge Barnacle. “Violent robberies have absolutely no place in New York, and we will not hesitate to go after those who threaten our communities. Our work with our partners has led to this guilty plea.” “This defendant planned and executed an armed robbery outside a bank in Queens, threatening employees at gunpoint and stealing more than $500,000 from an armored truck,” stated NYPD Commissioner Tisch. “He thought he could get away with this dramatic crime, but his plan was no match for the skilled NYPD detectives and the investigative tools they used to track and arrest him. I thank our investigators and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York for working to hold this criminal accountable.” According to court filings and statements made during the plea hearing, on the morning of June 2, 2025 at approximately 8:43 a.m., Ortiz and an accomplice, both wearing masks and armed with guns, staged an ambush outside a Bank of America branch located at 205-02 Linden Boulevard in Queens, New York. The pair arrived before the scheduled cash delivery and waited for Brinks employees to transport money from an armored truck into the bank. When the employees began wheeling a bag of cash toward the bank entrance, Ortiz brandished a firearm, ordered the employees to the ground, and stole the service weapon of one of the armored car guards. At the same time, Ortiz’s accomplice loaded the bag containing approximately $542,000 into a Chevrolet sport utility vehicle which did not have license plates. The two men then fled with the stolen cash. Later, NYPD officers recovered a mask, a jacket, and a firearm discarded by Ortiz in the vicinity of Hilburn Avenue and Dunkirk Street. The stolen cash has not been recovered and Ortiz’s accomplice remains at large. The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s General Crimes Section. Special Assistant United States Attorney Brachah Goykadosh and Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Amzallag are charge of the prosecution. The Defendant : DAVID ORTIZ Age: 49 Brooklyn, New York and Texas E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 2-CR-343 (EK)


title: Thrice Deported Mexican Illegal Alien Charged with Illegally Reentering the U.S.A. after Allegedly Killing a 6-Year-Old Girl

component: USAO - North Carolina, Eastern

body_text: RALEIGH, N.C. – On July 22, a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging an illegal alien born in Mexico, Jaime Santiago-Corona, also known as “Jaime Guzman Corona,” 33, with illegal reentry of a previously removed alien. The indictment alleges that Santiago illegally reentered the United States without permission from immigration authorities after he had previously been deported multiple times. On July 3, 2026, authorities arrested Santiago after he allegedly ran a stop sign at County Home Road and Warren Jones Road in Pitt County and crashed into a car driven by a mother with her two children, ages 4 and 6. The mother and her 4‑year‑old daughter suffered serious injuries. In an unspeakably tragedy, 6‑year‑old Calli died at the scene. The State Highway Patrol charged Santiago with several crimes, including misdemeanor death by motor vehicle. ICE issued a detainer asking North Carolina officials to keep Santiago in custody. Santiago has a long history of violating immigration laws; deported three separate times: October 9, 2019, June 12, 2023, and again on June 17, 2024. The federal grand jury charged him with violating 8 U.S.C. § 1326(a). If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 2 years in federal prison and deportation. 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. Ellis Boyle, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, made the announcement. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (“ICE-ERO”) is investigating the case. ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) is the federal division of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) responsible for identifying, arresting, detaining, and removing individuals who are subject to removal or unlawfully present in the United States. A copy of this press release is located on our website . Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 4:26-CR-00031-FL-KS-1. An indictment is merely an accusation. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.


title: Addiction Recovery Care and Affiliates Agree to Pay $16.2 Million Civil Judgment to Resolve Medicaid Fraud Allegations

component: USAO - Kentucky, Eastern

body_text: ASHLAND, Ky. – Addiction Recovery Care, LLC (“ARC”), and its affiliates Pioneer Health Group, LLC and Science Hill Family Care, LLC, have agreed to a civil judgment of $16,205,774.05 in favor of the United States to resolve allegations that they defrauded the Kentucky Medicaid program. ARC, headquartered in Louisa, Kentucky, operates residential and outpatient drug rehabilitation facilities throughout the state. Along with its affiliates, ARC offers behavioral healthcare and medical healthcare services to patients at their rehabilitation facilities. The judgment, announced today by the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the Office of the Kentucky Attorney General, is part of a civil settlement resolving allegations that ARC and its affiliates violated the False Claims Act, a federal statute that prohibits the submission of false claims for payment to Government programs, including the Medicaid program. In April 2023, current and former employees of ARC filed a qui tam complaint alleging that ARC defrauded the Kentucky Medicaid program by submitting fraudulent claims for payment for behavioral health services provided in their drug rehabilitation programs. Under the qui tam provisions of the False Claims Act, a citizen can file a civil action on behalf of the United States to bring allegations of fraud to the Government’s attention. The United States thereafter opened a civil investigation into whether ARC violated the False Claims Act. During the Government’s investigation, ARC self-disclosed to the Government that it should not have billed for some of its services, including services identified by the whistleblowers in the qui tam complaint. According to the settlement agreement, the Government alleged that ARC falsely represented the qualifications of some of their clinicians on claims to Kentucky Medicaid in order to receive higher reimbursements. From January 2018 to March 2024, some of ARC’s behavioral health services, such as psychotherapy, psychiatric evaluations, and mental health assessments, allegedly were provided by lower-level healthcare workers but billed as if ARC’s employees had higher-level licenses. Similarly, from July 2019 to mid-June 2021, the Government alleged that ARC falsely represented that it provided individual group therapy sessions, which Kentucky paid at a higher rate, when ARC in fact provided less expensive group therapy sessions. These alleged overstatements of provider qualifications and individualized care, which are commonly referred to as “upcoding,” are not allowed by federal health insurance programs and caused ARC and its affiliates to receive higher payments to which they were not entitled. In addition to ARC’s purported upcoding practices, the Government alleged that, from January 2019 to December 2024, ARC’s affiliates billed duplicate office visits to Kentucky Medicaid and billed for office visits that were already reimbursed under an inclusive per diem rate. One of ARC’s affiliates also allegedly charged for care management services that did not meet Kentucky Medicaid’s coverage requirements, including services performed by ARC employees who lacked the necessary credentials. The civil judgment and settlement agreement resolve the qui tam case captioned United States ex rel. Rikki Pope, et al. v. Addiction Recovery Care, LLC, Case No. 0:23-cv-51-DLB, which was recently unsealed by the Court. The amount of the judgment, which will be paid over several years, was negotiated and reduced due to Defendants’ financial condition and prospects for ongoing operations. As part of this resolution, the individuals who filed the qui tam complaint are eligible to receive a portion of the settlement proceeds. This matter was investigated by the Affirmative Civil Enforcement section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, with assistance from the U.S. Department for Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General, the Kentucky Office of Attorney General, Office of Medicaid Fraud and Abuse Control, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan Stubblebine and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Katie Sheridan represented the United States. The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only; there has been no determination of liability. – END –


title: Vallejo Man Sentenced for Being a Felon in Possession of a Firearm

component: USAO - California, Eastern

body_text: SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Dequan Mitchell, 23, of Vallejo, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge William B. Shubb to 33 months in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced. According to court documents, at age 16, Mitchell murdered a man. While on probation for that crime, investigators discovered Mitchell was involved in posting a firearm for sale in an illicit gun trafficking application. When police searched Mitchell’s mother’s home, they discovered a loaded Glock 23 with an extended clip. That gun was the same gun Mitchell offered to sell for $1,200 in the gun trafficking forum. Subsequent investigation revealed that the gun was stolen from a carjacking victim in October 2025. Because of his prior conviction, Mitchell is prohibited from possessing firearms. He pleaded guilty on April 20, 2026. The Solano County Sheriff’s Office, the Solano County Probation Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason Hitt prosecuted. Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice’s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys’ offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department’s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump’s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.


title: Tuolumne County Man Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison for Receiving and Distributing Child Sexual Abuse Material

body_text: FRESNO, Calif. — Stephen Tyler Prock, 58, of Jamestown, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Jennifer L. Thurston to 20 years in prison, which is the maximum sentence allowed under the statute, to be followed by 15 years of supervised release, for receiving and distributing child sexual abuse material commonly referred to as CSAM, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced. Judge Thurston also ordered Prock to pay $23,000 in restitution to four victims whose images he possessed. According to court documents, between May 2018 and March 2020, Prock received approximately 100 videos of CSAM and used a peer-to-peer file-sharing program to distribute CSAM to others around the world. On March 4, 2020, Prock was in the process of downloading more CSAM onto his computer when federal agents arrived at his home with a search warrant and seized his computer. On April 23, 2026, following a three-day trial, a jury found Prock guilty of receipt and distribution of CSAM. Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Calvin Lee prosecuted the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute those who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc.


title: Maryland Man Pleads Guilty to Gun, Drug Charges After Fleeing Police in Stolen Vehicle

body_text: WASHINGTON – Fulani Hasan Tahrike Herrod, 24, a Maryland resident and a convicted felon, pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in connection with his possession of a “ghost gun,” ammunition, and crack cocaine recovered following a police pursuit through Northwest Washington that ended when he crashed a stolen vehicle, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. Herrod pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Randolph D. Moss to one count of unlawful possession of ammunition by a felon and one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine base. A sentencing date is scheduled for Nov. 6, 2026. Herrod faces a statutory maximum of 15 years in prison on the ammunition count and 20 years in prison on the drug count. According to court papers, on March 8, 2026, a United States Park Police (USPP) officer monitoring police radio during a high-visibility patrol learned that a license plate reader had spotted a stolen vehicle, a black BMW sedan with Maryland tags, traveling in the area of Columbia Road NW. The officer located the BMW near 16th Street and Irving Street NW and attempted to stop it. Herrod, the sole occupant, disregarded the officer's emergency lights and sirens and fled, running multiple traffic lights, driving at a high rate of speed, driving the wrong way, and colliding with several parked vehicles. The pursuit ended in the area of 14th Street and Military Road NW, when Herrod drove over a curb and struck a parking sign, disabling the vehicle. As the officer attempted to handcuff him, Herrod got up and ran on foot, jumping a stone wall and crossing a grassy area before he was taken into custody with the assistance of the Metropolitan Police Department. A search incident to arrest recovered a Maryland driver's license and $170 in cash from Herrod. In plain view on the driver's side floorboard of the vehicle, officers found a loaded, privately manufactured 9mm “ghost gun” bearing no serial number and untraceable by law enforcement. A backpack recovered from behind the driver's seat contained cocaine base, baking soda, a substance labeled as a cannabis concentrate, and a large quantity of small plastic bags. Laboratory testing by the Drug Enforcement Administration confirmed 22.34 grams of cocaine base and 6.06 grams of cocaine. Herrod previously had been convicted in Montgomery County, Maryland, of possessing a loaded handgun in a vehicle, attempting to elude a uniformed police officer by fleeing on foot, and related traffic offenses. The investigation was conducted by the United States Park Police, the Metropolitan Police Department, and the Drug Enforcement Administration, Washington Division Office. The matter was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney David B. Liss, with significant assistance from former Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Ursula Simmons. 26cr60 Follow us on X , Instagram , and YouTube Or at https://www.justice.gov/usao-dc


title: Georgia Teen Pleads Guilty in Possession of Shotgun on  U.S. Capitol Grounds

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: WASHINGTON – Carter Camacho, 18, of Smyrna, Georgia, pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in connection with his possession of a loaded 12-gauge shotgun on the grounds of the U.S. Capitol Building as well as possession of child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. Camacho entered his plea before Judge Amit P. Mehta to one count of unlawful possession of a firearm within the United States Capitol Buildings or Grounds and one count of receipt of visual depictions of sexually explicit conduct. Judge Mehta scheduled sentencing for Dec. 8, 2026. According to the court documents, on Feb. 17, 2026, Camacho parked a white Mercedes SUV on Maryland Ave. SE, between First and Third Streets. About 12:07 p.m., Camacho exited the vehicle and ran toward the United States Capitol carrying a firearm while wearing a tactical-style vest and camouflage-style clothing. Camacho reached the steps on the western side of the Capitol. A uniformed officer with the U.S. Capitol Police (USCP) asked Camacho what he was carrying. Camacho produced the firearm. The officer ordered Camacho to halt and lie down on the ground. Once Camacho was on the ground, USCP officers recovered a Mossberg Model 88 12-gauge shotgun loaded with seven rounds in the tube and one in the chamber, with the safety off. An additional 17 rounds of ammunition were held in a carrier attached to the shotgun’s stock. Officers placed Camacho in handcuffs. Camacho told USCP officers that he was there to talk to a Member of Congress. USCP officers traced Camacho’s path to the white Mercedes SUV and located a fixed blade knife on the ground about forty feet from the vehicle. Officers then searched the vehicle and located Camacho’s cell phone. A subsequent search of the cell phone, led to the discovery of child sexual abuse material (CSAM). Investigators determined that Camacho had purchased CSAM and was in possession of dozens of CSAM images and over 100 CSAM videos. This case is being investigated by the U.S. Capitol Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation – Washington Field Office. The case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Brendan M. Horan, who is detailed to the U.S. Attorney’s Office from the United States Capitol Police. 26cr36 Camacho ran toward the United States Capitol carrying a firearm while wearing a tactical-style vest and camouflage-style clothing. Photo Credit: United States Capitol Police USCP officers recovered a Mossberg Model 88 12-gauge shotgun loaded with seven rounds in the tube and one in the chamber, with the safety off. An additional 17 rounds of ammunition were held in a carrier attached to the shotgun’s stock. Photo Credit: United States Capitol Police


title: District Man Sentenced to 18 Years for Homicide in Northwest Washington

component: USAO - District of Columbia

body_text: WASHINGTON – Tyree Irving, 29, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced in D.C. Superior Court to 18 years in prison for the killing of Davane Williams on January 15, 2019, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. Irving pleaded guilty on February 2, 2026, to one count of second-degree murder while armed, in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. On July 24, 2026, the Honorable Judge Neil Kravitz ordered Irving to the 18-year prison term to be followed by five years of supervised release. On January 15, 2019, at 2:59 p.m., Irving walked toward the Tyler House, at the 1200 block of North Capitol Street, NW. Williams and several other men were standing on the sidewalk outside the entrance pathway to the Tyler House. Irving, who had a .40 caliber pistol concealed in his clothing, approached the group and immediately started yelling at Williams. After yelling at Williams for less than 10 seconds, Irving pulled the .40 caliber pistol out and fired five shots at Williams, striking him five times. Irving put the pistol away and then ran away southbound across M Street and changed clothes before fleeing southbound away from the Sursum Corda neighborhood. Irving was arrested on February 27, 2019, and has been in custody since. Joining the announcement was Interim Chief Jeffery W. Carroll of the Metropolitan Police Department. In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Pirro and Interim Chief Carroll commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department. They also acknowledged Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joshua Hall and Wes Faulkner, who prosecuted the case.


title: Dominican National Sentenced to More Than 4 Years in Prison for Passport Fraud and Identity Theft Offenses

component: USAO - Connecticut

body_text: David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that JOSE LUIS RODRIGUEZ, 46, a citizen of the Dominican Republic unlawfully residing in the United States, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Vernon D. Oliver in Hartford to 50 months of imprisonment for passport fraud and identity theft offenses. According to court documents and statements made in court, in June 2025, an individual who had been recently released from prison (the “victim”) applied for a Connecticut identification card at the Waterbury branch of the Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles (“DMV”). When processing the victim’s application, the DMV determined that there was already an active driver’s license for the victim that had been issued in 2001 and renewed multiple times. An investigation determined that Rodriguez, who lived in Waterbury, was the unlawful holder of the driver’s license and had assumed the victim’s identity. Investigators discovered that the victim’s identity had two different FBI fingerprint profiles, and that the Waterbury Police Department had arrest records and booking photographs of Rodriguez posing at the victim. On March 5, 2020, Rodriguez used the name, date of birth, and place of birth of the victim to apply for a U.S. passport in Waterbury. He received the passport and used it for travel and identification purposes. Rodriguez was arrested on a federal criminal complaint on December 30, 2025, after he submitted the false passport to the U.S. Department of State and falsely represented himself as the victim and as a U.S. citizen. He has been detained since his arrest. On April 28, 2026, Rodriguez pleaded guilty to one count of using a passport secured by a false statement and one count of aggravated identity theft. Rodriguez will be removed to the Dominican Republic when he completes his prison term. This matter was investigated by the U.S. Department of State, Diplomatic Security Service, with the assistance of the Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles and the Waterbury Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Hal Chen. 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: Convicted Sex Offender Receives an Additional 48 Month Sentence for Possession of Contraband in Prison

body_text: PEORIA, Ill. – A Nashville, Tennessee man, Joseph Nichols, 42, who is currently incarcerated at the Federal Correctional Institution (“FCI”) in Pekin, has been sentenced to an additional 48 months’ imprisonment for possession of contraband in prison. At the sentencing hearing, the government presented evidence that Nichols was convicted of receipt, possession and distribution of child pornography in 2016 in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee and was sentenced to 216 months imprisonment followed by a lifetime of supervised release. In June 2025, Nichols was transferred to FCI-Pekin from another federal prison. Upon his arrival at FCI-Pekin, staff located a razor blade and images of Child Sexual Abuse Material (“CSAM”) that were hidden in a prison-issued hearing aid case marked with Nichol’s name. Both the images and razor are prohibited items in federal prisons. Nichols pled guilty in March 2026 to a two-count Information filed in U. S. District Court in Peoria. Judge Hawley noted that possessing CSAM and other prohibited items is a serious offense. Nichols was sentenced to an additional 48 months’ imprisonment to be served consecutively to the child pornography sentence he is currently serving. The statutory penalties for possession of contraband, that included the razor blade contraband, are not more than 5 years imprisonment, followed by not more than 3 years of supervised release, and up to a $250,000 fine. The penalties for the possession of contraband that included the Child Sexual Abuse Materials are not more than 6 months imprisonment, followed by up to 1 year of supervised release, and up to a $5000 fine. The case was investigated by Special Investigative Services of FCI Pekin and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Springfield Field Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Melissa P. Ortiz represented the government in the prosecution.


title: Most Wanted COVID-19 Fraud Fugitive Returned from Jamaica to Face Charges in $32 Million Scheme

component: Office of the Attorney General

body_text: A fugitive on the FBI’s Most Wanted Fraudsters List was returned Saturday to the Southern District of Florida to face federal charges for her alleged role in a scheme that fraudulently obtained more than $32 million in federal COVID-19 relief funds. Elaine Escoe, 41, was charged by indictment in 2025 with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and multiple substantive counts of wire fraud and money laundering. After a federal arrest warrant was issued in May 2025, Escoe failed to appear for her court appearance and fled to Jamaica. Acting on information developed by the FBI, Jamaican authorities captured Escoe after receiving a tip. She was returned to South Florida Saturday through the coordinated efforts of the FBI, the U.S. Marshals Service, the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service Regional Security Office at the U.S. Embassy in Kingston, the Jamaican Constabulary Force (JCF), and the JCF Jamaica Fugitive Apprehension Team. “This Most Wanted Fraudster allegedly obtained tens of millions in COVID-19 relief, stealing critical resources from legitimate businesses during a national crisis,” said Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche. “She fled the country believing she could escape justice but ultimately could not. Those who exploit taxpayer-funded programs will be held accountable by this Department of Justice, no matter how long it takes or where they attempt to hide.” “Elaine Angene Escoe’s arrest and return to the United States demonstrates that no one is beyond the reach of American justice,” said Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald of the National Fraud Enforcement Division. “This Most Wanted Fraudster faces charges stemming from a multimillion-dollar scheme to defraud taxpayer-funded COVID-19 relief programs. The Fraud Division will continue to vigorously prosecute those who steal from the American people.” “The historic success of the ‘Most Wanted Fraudster’ list continues as the FBI and our partners just captured our fourth Most Wanted Fraudster in 5 weeks, and yet another high value target returned to the U.S. by this FBI,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “Elaine Angene Escoe, on the run since May of 2025, was captured in Jamaica while living under a fake identity of ‘Harley Newman’ – and returned to the United States today to face justice. She is charged for her alleged involvement in a conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering – connected with a scheme to fraudulently obtain over $32 million in federal COVID-19 relief funds. Escoe brings the number of high value targets returned by the FBI to over 30 just since June. Led by President Trump, Vice President Vance, and the White House Task Force to Eliminate Fraud – the FBI and our partners continue to see an unprecedented level of success taking down the worst of the worst alleged fraudsters. In just week weeks, we have captured four subjects on three different continents charged with a combined nearly $1.8 billion in fraud, collectively on the run for over 3,500 days, each hiding overseas – now returned and all in custody in 1.5 months. Under this administration, fraud is no longer tolerated – and those who steal from American taxpayers have nowhere to hide.” “Elaine Escoe allegedly helped orchestrate a sprawling scheme that fraudulently obtained more than $32 million from programs created to keep American businesses and workers afloat during the pandemic,” said U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida. “After being charged, she failed to appear in court and fled to Jamaica. Defendants cannot escape accountability simply by leaving the country. Thanks to the determined work of our federal, state, and international partners, she is back in South Florida and will now face the charges against her. This coordinated effort demonstrates that we will pursue fugitives wherever they go and bring them back to face justice.” According to court records, Escoe and her co-conspirators submitted or caused the submission of fraudulent applications seeking more than $32 million in Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF), Shuttered Venue Operators Grant (SVOG), and Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) funds. The applications falsely represented the existence, payroll, revenue, and operations of purported businesses to qualify for and maximize federal relief funding. To support the fraudulent applications, the conspirators created fake tax documents, fabricated bank records, and other false financial records that lenders and program administrators relied upon in approving loans and grants. Some applications were submitted on behalf of businesses controlled by the conspirators, while others were submitted for third parties in exchange for substantial kickbacks — sometimes as much as 50% of the loan proceeds. The fraud proceeds were subsequently laundered among the conspirators. Escoe is the last remaining defendant charged in the scheme. Following a December 2025 trial, Alfred Davis, Cher Davis, and Latoya Clark were convicted by a federal jury. James McGhow and Gino Jourdan previously pleaded guilty. Alfred Davis was sentenced to 235 months in prison, Cher Davis to 87 months, Clark to 70 months, Jourdan to 46 months, and McGhow to 42 months. FBI Miami’s West Palm Beach Resident Agency is investigating the case, with assistance from Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Miami and the Palm Beach County State Attorney’s Office. On June 4, the FBI announced the creation of the Most Wanted Fraudsters List . The list included Herb Kimble, a fugitive in a $1.2 billion telemedicine and durable medical equipment scheme, who, on June 8 — just four days later — was apprehended in the Philippines and was soon after charged as part of the 2026 National Health Care Fraud Takedown . On June 8, Escoe was added to the Most Wanted Fraudsters List, and she was apprehended less than two months later. 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 . Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov , under case number 25-cr-80076.


title: Expatriated Hedge Fund Manager Sentenced to Prison for Tax Evasion

component: Criminal Division

body_text: A Cayman resident who renounced his U.S. citizenship was sentenced today to 37 months in prison for tax evasion. According to court documents and statements made in court, Justin Ryan Schmidt, formerly of Austin, managed a hedge fund focused on cryptocurrency investments. Over a period of several years, Schmidt earned a total of at least $7 million from his hedge fund but did not report any of this income on his 2020, 2021 or 2022 tax returns. Instead, Schmidt falsely reported earning income of $5,000 or less during each of those years. At the same time, he held millions of dollars in foreign bank accounts that he failed to disclose to the IRS. “Today’s sentence makes clear that renouncing U.S. citizenship does not shield you from American justice,” said Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald of the Justice Department’s National Fraud Enforcement Division. “Mr. Schmidt deliberately hid millions in income and assets from the IRS, filed false statements, and cheated America’s tax system. Despite his best efforts to evade the reach of the Justice Department, Mr. Schmidt will now begin to reap the true reward of his crimes.” “Schmidt benefited from being a U.S. citizen but didn't want to pay the taxes to reap the benefits. When it was profitable to renounce his citizenship, he turned his back on his country, even lying about how much he was worth to avoid paying one last time,” said Special Agent in Charge Christopher J. Altemus Jr. of the IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) Texas Field Office. “As criminal investigators for the IRS, we aren't limited by our nation's borders. He may have walked out on our country, but he didn't leave our sight.” Schmidt renounced his U.S. citizenship in March 2022. Individuals who expatriate from the United States are required to report certain information to the IRS about their net worth, income, assets, and liabilities as of the date of their expatriation. Schmidt filed a false expatriation statement reporting that his net worth was $25,000, knowing that his net worth at the time exceeded $2 million. He also falsely stated that he had complied with his tax obligations for the preceding five years. In 2023, Schmidt paid approximately $5.8 million to purchase a house in Snowmass Village, Colorado, and sold it three months later for approximately $9 million. Schmidt had a duty to report his U.S. sourced income but did not report the gains from this sale and evaded payment of taxes by submitting false documents to prevent taxes from being withheld on the sale. In addition to the prison sentence, U.S. District Judge Robert Pitman for the Western District of Texas ordered Schmidt to serve three years of supervised release and to pay approximately $3.4 million in restitution to the United States. Assistant Attorney General Colin McDonald of the Justice Department’s National Fraud Enforcement Division and U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons for the Western District of Texas made the announcement. IRS-CI investigated the case. Senior Litigation Counsel Michael C. Boteler and Trial Attorney Michael Jones of the Criminal Division prosecuted the case with assistance from Assistant U.S. Attorney Doug Gardner for the Western District of Texas. 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: Corrupt Guatemalan Mayor Pleads Guilty to Drug Trafficking Conspiracy Charge as Part of Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) Initiative

body_text: A former Guatemalan mayor, Romeo Ramos Cruz, 58, pleaded guilty today to one count of conspiracy to import more than five kilograms of cocaine into the United States. Ramos Cruz arrived in the United States on Aug. 4, 2025, following extradition from Guatemala, where he had been detained at the request of the United States. According to court documents, from 2022 through 2023, Ramos Cruz served as a member of a Guatemala-based drug trafficking organization responsible for transporting cocaine intended for U.S. markets. During this time, Ramos Cruz served as the mayor of Santa Lucia municipality in Guatemala’s Escuintla Department and exploited his official position to facilitate the organization’s operations. In furtherance of the conspiracy, Ramos Cruz appointed a known drug trafficker to a high-ranking position in the municipal police force and also used his authority and access as mayor to coordinate logistics and transportation of a cocaine shipment destined for the United States, agreeing to help disguise the shipment from Venezuela to Guatemala as a donation of cement to his municipality. He prepared a letter on official municipal letterhead intended to help the shipment evade inspection by Guatemalan authorities. Ramos Cruz faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison and a maximum penalty of life in prison. Sentencing has been set for Dec. 2. Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, and Assistant Director in Charge Darren B. Cox of the FBI Washington Field Office (WFO) made the announcement. The FBI WFO led U.S. investigative efforts with assistance from the Drug Enforcement Administration Miami Division and the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations New Orleans Field Office. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs working with Guatemalan law enforcement authorities, INTERPOL, and the FBI provided critical assistance in securing the arrest and extradition of Ramos Cruz to the United States. Trial Attorneys Roger Polack and Kirk Handrich of the Criminal Division’s Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section (MNF) are prosecuting the case. MNF’s mission is to take the profit out of crime, eliminate drug cartels, and protect the U.S. financial system. MNF pursues criminal prosecutions and criminal and civil asset recovery actions involving: financial facilitators who launder profits for criminals; financial institutions and their officers and employees whose actions threaten the U.S. financial system and financial institutions; international money launderers who support transnational organized crime; and the top command and control of international drug trafficking organizations. MNF’s Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Unit investigates and prosecutes the top command and control elements of international drug cartels, drug trafficking organizations and related transnational criminal organizations. This case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of U.S. 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.


title: Adult Day Care Owner Pleads Guilty to $500,000 Medicare Fraud Scheme

component: Criminal - Criminal Fraud Section

body_text: A Michigan woman pleaded guilty today to billing Medicare for psychotherapy services that were never provided to residents of her adult day care center. According to court documents, Yolanda Matthews, 58, of Farmington Hills, admitted to continually billing and submitting false and fraudulent claims to Medicare for psychotherapy services that were never provided. Matthews admitted to fraudulently billing for providing services at her adult day care center during periods in which the Medicare beneficiary was actually admitted to a hospital, forging claims in the names of social workers who were no longer employed at the adult day care center, and even billing Medicare for providing psychotherapy services to beneficiaries after they had died. All told, Matthews submitted over $539,000 in false and fraudulent claims to Medicare. Matthews was charged as part of the 2026 National Health Care Fraud Takedown . Matthews pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit health care fraud. She is scheduled to be sentenced on Nov. 18, 2026, and faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald of the Justice Department’s National Fraud Enforcement Division; Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; Special Agent in Charge Jennifer Runyan of the FBI Detroit Field Office; and Special Agent in Charge Thomas Ethridge of the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG) made the announcement. The FBI Detroit Field Office and HHS-OIG investigated the case. Trial Attorney Jeffrey A. Crapko of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section is prosecuting the case. On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (“Fraud Division”). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs . The Department of Justice’s Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program, currently comprised of nine strike forces operating in federal districts across the country, has charged more than 6,200 defendants who collectively billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $45 billion since 2007. In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with the Office of the Inspector General for the Department of Health and Human Services, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit .


component: USAO - Florida, Southern

body_text: MIAMI – A fugitive on the FBI’s Most Wanted Fraudsters List has been returned to the Southern District of Florida to face federal charges for her alleged role in a scheme that fraudulently obtained more than $32 million in federal COVID-19 relief funds. Elaine Escoe, 41, was charged by indictment in 2025 with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and multiple substantive counts of wire fraud and money laundering. After a federal arrest warrant was issued in May 2025, Escoe failed to appear for her court appearance and fled to Jamaica. Acting on information developed by the FBI, Jamaican authorities captured Escoe after receiving a tip. She was returned to South Florida today through the coordinated efforts of the FBI, the U.S. Marshals Service, the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service Regional Security Office at the U.S. Embassy in Kingston, the Jamaican Constabulary Force (JCF), and the JCF Jamaica Fugitive Apprehension Team. “This Most Wanted Fraudster allegedly obtained tens of millions in COVID-19 relief, stealing critical resources from legitimate businesses during a national crisis,” said Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche. “She fled the country believing she could escape justice but ultimately could not. Those who exploit taxpayer-funded programs will be held accountable by this Department of Justice, no matter how long it takes or where they attempt to hide.” “Elaine Angene Escoe’s arrest and return to the United States demonstrates that no one is beyond the reach of American justice,” said Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald of the National Fraud Enforcement Division. “This Most Wanted Fraudster faces charges stemming from a multimillion-dollar scheme to defraud taxpayer-funded COVID-19 relief programs. The Fraud Division will continue to vigorously prosecute those who steal from the American people.” “The historic success of the ‘Most Wanted Fraudster’ list continues as the FBI and our partners just captured our fourth Most Wanted Fraudster in 5 weeks, and yet another high value target returned to the U.S. by this FBI,” said Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director Kash Patel. “Elaine Angene Escoe, on the run since May of 2025, was captured in Jamaica while living under a fake identity of ‘Harley Newman’ – and returned to the United States today to face justice. She is charged for her alleged involvement in a conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering – connected with a scheme to fraudulently obtain over $32 million in federal COVID-19 relief funds. Escoe brings the number of high value targets returned by the FBI to over 30 just since June. “Led by President Trump, Vice President Vance, and the White House Task Force to Eliminate Fraud – the FBI and our partners continue to see an unprecedented level of success taking down the worst of the worst alleged fraudsters. In just week weeks, we have captured four subjects on three different continents charged with a combined nearly $1.8 billion in fraud, collectively on the run for over 3,500 days, each hiding overseas – now returned and all in custody in 1.5 months. Under this administration, fraud is no longer tolerated – and those who steal from American taxpayers have nowhere to hide.” “Elaine Escoe allegedly helped orchestrate a sprawling scheme that fraudulently obtained more than $32 million from programs created to keep American businesses and workers afloat during the pandemic,” said U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida. “After being charged, she failed to appear in court and fled to Jamaica. Defendants cannot escape accountability simply by leaving the country. Thanks to the determined work of our federal, state, and international partners, she is back in South Florida and will now face the charges against her. This coordinated effort demonstrates that we will pursue fugitives wherever they go and bring them back to face justice.” According to court records, Escoe and her co-conspirators submitted or caused the submission of fraudulent applications seeking more than $32 million in Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF), Shuttered Venue Operators Grant (SVOG), and Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) funds. The applications falsely represented the existence, payroll, revenue, and operations of purported businesses to qualify for and maximize federal relief funding. To support the fraudulent applications, the conspirators created fake tax documents, fabricated bank records, and other false financial records that lenders and program administrators relied upon in approving loans and grants. Some applications were submitted on behalf of businesses controlled by the conspirators, while others were submitted for third parties in exchange for substantial kickbacks — sometimes as much as 50% of the loan proceeds. The fraud proceeds were subsequently laundered among the conspirators. Escoe is the last remaining defendant charged in the scheme. Following a December 2025 trial, Alfred Davis, Cher Davis, and Latoya Clark were convicted by a federal jury. James McGhow and Gino Jourdan previously pleaded guilty. Alfred Davis was sentenced to 235 months’ imprisonment, Cher Davis to 87 months, Clark to 70 months, Jourdan to 46 months, and McGhow to 42 months. FBI Miami’s West Palm Beach Resident Agency is investigating the case, with assistance from Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Miami and the Palm Beach County State Attorney’s Office. On June 4, the FBI announced the creation of the Most Wanted Fraudsters List . The list included Herb Kimble, a fugitive in a $1.2 billion telemedicine and durable medical equipment scheme, who, on June 8 — just four days later — was apprehended in the Philippines and was soon after charged as part of the 2026 National Health Care Fraud Takedown . On June 8, Escoe was added to the Most Wanted Fraudsters List, and she was apprehended less than two months later. 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 . Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov , under case number 25-cr-80076. ###