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

component: Office of the Attorney General

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


title: Graduate Student Arrested for Hateful and Threatening Message at San Jose State University

component: Civil Rights Division

body_text: The Justice Department announced today that Ziheng “Tony” Fang was arrested on a federal charge of false information and hoaxes. Fang made an initial appearance on July 10, in federal court in San Jose, California. According to the allegations in a criminal complaint and court documents filed on July 9, Fang, 30, of San Jose, California, wrote a hateful and threatening message placed in a plastic cover sheet taped to the bathroom wall of a men’s restroom on the campus of San Jose State University (SJSU). Fang is a graduate student at SJSU, pursuing his Master’s Degree in Data Science. The message was discovered on Nov. 5, 2025, and began with “!WARNING! MASS BOMB NEXT WEEK,” among other statements, accompanied by multiple swastika symbols. A photograph of this message is below: Photograph of the message discovered on Nov. 5, 2025 Fang’s fingerprint was found on this paper. A second message was also discovered on the wall of the same bathroom at the same time. It read “Kill all Jews, Muslims, Chinks, and Mexicans,” “Mass bombing 11/11 and 11/12 guess.” As alleged in the complaint, since October 2024, SJSU Police Department personnel have recorded more than 20 instances of hateful and threatening messages written in men’s and gender-neutral restrooms around the SJSU campus. In many instances, these messages included threats specifying a particular date that an attack was allegedly intended to take place and/or weapons and methods that would be used such as bombs, knives, and shooting. The most recent hateful and threatening message was discovered on May 14. Fang accessed buildings in the days leading up to the discovery of hateful and threatening messages in 16 of the 18 instances where key card access is required, according to the complaint. The next closest number of entries was from a SJSU staff member who worked with facilities and had a reason to be in each building. Surveillance footage also shows Fang entering and exiting the restrooms or restroom areas where some of the messages were written up to a day before their discovery. According to the complaint, the SJSU President’s Office provided several email/text message alerts to notify students and staff before dates that attacks were allegedly set to take place. When alerts were issued, SJSU professors independently decided whether to cancel class or hold it virtually. University police and the college administration received multiple calls from people worried about coming onto campus because of the threats. Campus buildings on the dates specified in the messages were described as “ghost town,” as described in the complaint. U.S. Attorney Craig H. Missakian for the Northern District of California, Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, and Special Agent in Charge Scott Schelble of the FBI San Francisco Field Office made the announcement. Fang is currently in federal custody. Fang is next scheduled to appear in federal court on July 13 for identification of counsel before Chief Magistrate Judge Nathanael Cousins. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah E. Griswold for the Northern District of California is prosecuting the case with the assistance of Trial Attorney Connor Cheadle of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the FBI, with the assistance of the San Jose State University Police Department. A criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Florida Man Pleads Guilty to Filing False Tax Return

component: National Fraud Enforcement Division

body_text: A Florida man pleaded guilty today to filing a false tax return filed on behalf of a trust he controlled. According to court documents and statements made in court, McDonald Preval, of Miami, filed numerous false tax returns on behalf of himself and purported trusts he controlled. The trust tax returns reported that the trusts had earned significant income and made tax withholding payments to the IRS, purportedly entitling the trusts to large tax refunds. In fact, the trusts did not have the claimed income, and did not make payments in the amounts claimed on the returns, and therefore were not entitled to the refunds Preval claimed. He also filed tax returns for 2023 that did not include the income from his employment. The false tax returns Preval filed and caused to be filed on behalf of purported trusts and himself collectively sought tax refunds totaling more than $4.2 million. Preval pleaded guilty to one count of filing a false tax return. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Oct. 6 and faces a maximum penalty of three years in prison. He also faces a period of supervised release, restitution and monetary penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Assistant Attorney General Colin McDonald of the Justice Department’s National Fraud Enforcement Division and U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida made the announcement. IRS Criminal Investigation is investigating the case. Trial Attorneys Melissa Siskind and Kavitha Bondada of the Department of Justice’s Criminal Division, Tax Section, are 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.


title: Bangladeshi National Extradited from Brazil to Face Charges for Role in Transnational Criminal Human Smuggling Organization

component: Criminal Division

body_text: Bangladeshi national Saifullah Al-Mamun, 39, made his initial appearance in Laredo, Texas, today after being extradited from Brazil on July 8. A second superseding indictment charges Al-Mamun for his role in a conspiracy that smuggled aliens from Bangladesh into the United States. According to court documents, Al-Mamun and his co-defendants — Mohamad Milon Hossain, 46 and Moktar Hossain, 38, both of Bangladesh — participated in a wide-ranging human smuggling operation and assisted other smugglers by facilitating the travel of scores of aliens from São Paulo, Brazil, and other locations in South America, Central America, and Mexico so that the aliens could illegally enter the United States. Al-Mamun housed aliens in São Paulo and arranged their travel, Mohamad Milon Hossain housed aliens in Tapachula, Mexico, and facilitated their transportation to Monterrey, Mexico. Moktar Hossain housed aliens in Monterrey and instructed them how to cross the Rio Grande River into the United States. Many of the aliens had difficulty safely crossing the Rio Grande River. The aliens paid as much as tens of thousands of dollars to individuals in Bangladesh to help them travel illegally to the United States. Al-Mamun was arrested in Brazil on Oct. 31, 2019. Mohamad Milon Hossain pleaded guilty to his role in the operation and was sentenced to 46 months in prison. Moktar Hossain also pleaded guilty to his role in the operation and was also sentenced to 46 months in prison. Al-Mamun is charged with conspiracy to bring an alien to the United States, multiple counts of bringing an alien to the United States for financial gain, and conspiracy to encourage and induce an alien to enter the United States. If convicted on all counts of bringing an alien to the United States for financial gain, he faces a minimum penalty of five years in prison and a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison. If convicted of conspiracy to bring and/or conspiracy to encourage and induce and alien to enter the United States, he faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney Aaron Reitz for the Southern District of Texas; and Special Agent in Charge Jason T. Stevens of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Phoenix made the announcement. HSI Phoenix is investigating this case with assistance from the HSI Human Smuggling Unit in Washington, D.C., U.S. Customs and Border and Protection’s International Interdiction Task Force, U.S. Customs and Border Protection – Counter Network Division, HSI Laredo, HSI Brasilia, HSI Bogota, , U.S. Embassy in Brazil including the State Department’s Diplomatic Security Service, Brazil Federal Police, Colombian National Police, and the U.S. Marshals Service. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs (OIA) provided significant assistance in securing the defendant’s arrest and extradition from Brazil. The Justice Department thanks its Brazilian law enforcement counterparts for their assistance in this matter. The investigation and indictment were supported and prosecuted by Joint Task Force Alpha (JTFA), the Department’s lead effort in combating high-impact human smuggling and trafficking committed by cartels and Transnational Criminal Organizations (TCOs). A highly successful partnership between the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), JTFA investigates and prosecutes human smuggling and trafficking and related immigration crimes that impact public safety and border security. JTFA’s mission is to target the leaders and organizers of Cartels and TCOs involved in human smuggling and trafficking throughout the Americas. The Attorney General has elevated and expanded JTFA to target the most prolific and dangerous human smuggling and trafficking groups operating not only in Mexico and the Northern Triangle countries of Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras, but also in Canada, the Caribbean and the maritime border, and elsewhere. Led by the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section and supported by the Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section, the Office of International Affairs, and the Office of Enforcement Operations, among others, JTFA has dedicated prosecutors from the Southern District of California; District of Arizona; District of New Mexico; Western and Southern Districts of Texas; Southern District of Florida; Northern District of New York; and District of Vermont. JTFA also partners with other U.S. Attorney’s Offices throughout the country and supports high-priority cases in any district. All JTFA cases rely on substantial law enforcement resources from DHS, including ICE/HSI and Customs and Border Protection, Border Patrol and Office of Field Operations, as well as FBI and other law enforcement agencies. To date, JTFA’s work has resulted in more than 464 domestic and international arrests of leaders, organizers, and significant facilitators of alien smuggling and/or trafficking; more than 414 U.S. convictions; and more than 360 significant jail sentences imposed, and forfeitures of substantial assets. Trial Attorney Spencer M. Perry of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Leslie Cortez for the Southern District of Texas are prosecuting the case. An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Woodinville, Washington, man indicted for stealing $440,000 from the financial institutions where he worked

component: USAO - Washington, Western

body_text: Seattle – A 41-year-old Woodinville, Washington man has been indicted for 30 federal felonies related to his scheme to steal from financial institutions where he worked and then launder the money through other banks, announced First Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Neil Floyd. Joshua Shore will make his initial appearance on the indictment today at 2:00 PM. “This defendant allegedly victimized two financial institutions, stealing huge piles of cash and casting suspicion on all the employees who worked there,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Neil Floyd. “His attempted cover-up – repeated deposits of thousands of dollars to other bank’s ATMs, provided a trail for law enforcement and will be part of our work to hold him accountable for the theft and money laundering.” According to the indictment, between July 2019 and April 2022, Joshua Shore was an operations manager of the cash vault for a nationwide bank. The facility was located in Tukwila, Washington. On December 6, 2021, Shore allegedly stole approximately $40,000. On January 28, 2022, Shore allegedly stole an additional $100,000. The next ten counts of the indictment detail how Shore allegedly sought to launder the stolen funds by making repeated $3,000 cash deposits of hundred-dollar bills into ATM’s for the local bank where he had his personal accounts. Ultimately, Shore moved the funds from his bank to another financial institution – another count of money laundering. From September 2023-December 2025, Shore was employed as a Market Manager at a financial institution in Renton. The indictment alleges that on the eve of the Columbus Day/Indigenous People’s Day (the start of a bank holiday), Shore stole $300,000 from the vault. The next 16 counts describe how he deposited cash up to $10,000 at a time via ATMs into his personal bank account at a different financial institution. The indictment seeks to forfeit any money seized from Shore as part of this investigation. Theft by an employee from a financial institution is punishable by up to 30 years in prison. The types of money laundering alleged in this case are punishable by up to 20 years or 10 years in prison depending on the count. The charges contained in the indictment are only allegations. A person is presumed innocent unless and until he or she is proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The case is being investigated by the FBI. The case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Charlotte Storey. Ms. Storey is an attorney with the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. shore_indictment.pdf


title: Former Austin ISD Elementary Teacher Sentenced to 16 years in Federal Prison for Possessing Child Sexual Abuse Material

component: USAO - Texas, Western

body_text: AUSTIN, Texas – A former elementary school teacher was sentenced by a federal court in Austin to 200 months in prison and 10 years supervised release for receipt and possession of child pornography. According to court documents, a digital forensic analysis of seized devices determined that Carl David Innmon, 51, possessed more than 16,000 files depicting child sexual abuse material (CSAM) on a laptop computer and an additional 349,728 files depicting CSAM on an external hard drive. Thousands of the images possessed by Innmon involved prepubescent minors under the age of 12. Innmon was a fifth-grade teacher in the Austin Independent School District at the time of his April 2025 arrest and had previously worked as a substitute teacher at approximately 20 other schools within the district. He faced up to 20 years in prison. “This now-convicted pedophile was tasked with caring for the most vulnerable among us: our children,” said U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Texas Justin R. Simmons. “Instead, he used children to satisfy his deviant sexual desires. In cooperation with our state, local and federal law enforcement partners, my office will always aggressively pursue pedophiles like this one, and our message to them is this: pedophilia is not a sexual preference; it’s a crime, and we will always make sure you do the time.” U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons for the Western District of Texas made the announcement. The Texas Department of Public Safety Criminal Investigations Division investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Grant Sparks prosecuted the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc . ###


title: Shaler Township Man Charged with Threatening to Kill Member of Congress

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Western

body_text: PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of Shaler Township, Pennsylvania, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on charges of interstate threats and influencing, impeding, or retaliating against a federal official by threat, United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today. The 12-count Indictment named Robert Hlovchiec, 32, as the sole defendant. According to the Indictment, between February and March 2026, Hlovchiec posted comments to YouTube videos in which he threatened acts of violence against a member of Congress (identified in the Indictment as “Victim 1”), Democrats and liberals, transgender people, and various minority groups. At times, Hlovchiec identified himself as a Nazi and a white supremacist, also detailing the acts of violence he desired to carry out, including mass shootings, assassinations, and running people over with his truck. The Indictment charged Hlovchiec with issuing the following threats: - “If i get the chance im going to do a mass shooting wherever [Victim 1] is standing. [Victim 1] needs to die. All trailers to America beware. America is not for sale. America is not a Muslim country.” - “If i get the chance I’ll shoot everyone in [Victim 1]’s family. America is a white Christian nation. We are ready to kill and die before foreigner ll Muslims take over” - “I would put a bullet in [Victim 1]’s head. [Victim 1] isn’t American” - “I would shoot [Victim 1] if I get close enough to [Victim 1]” - “I’ll shoot [Victim 1] if I get the chance” - “I’ll put a bullet in any democrats head especially democrat politician or [Victim 1]” As to each of the six counts of interstate threats, the law provides for a maximum sentence of up to five years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, or both. As to each of the six counts of influencing, impeding, or retaliating against a federal official while they were engaged in, and on account of, their performance of their official duties by threat, the law provides for a maximum sentence of up to 10 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant. Assistant United States Attorneys Brendan J. McKenna and Alyssa R. Angotti are prosecuting this case on behalf of the government. The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation leading to the Indictment. An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.


title: Genesee Valley Club agrees to pay $1.05 million to resolve False Claims Act allegations

component: USAO - New York, Western

body_text: ROCHESTER, N.Y. – U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that the Genesee Valley Club has agreed to pay $1,050,000 to resolve allegations that it improperly obtained a Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), which it was not eligible to receive. This action is part of the Trump Administration’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud. The PPP loan program, enacted in March 2020, provided emergency financial assistance to small businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic. The program allowed eligible small businesses to receive loans guaranteed by the federal government. Private clubs that limited memberships for any reason other than capacity, or restrict patronage for any reason other than capacity, were not eligible for PPP loans. In May 2021, Genesee Valley Club applied for a PPP loan and certified that it was eligible to receive the loan. After receiving the PPP loan, Genesee Valley Club sought and received forgiveness of the entire loan amount. The United States contends that Genesee Valley Club falsely represented its eligibility to receive the PPP loan because it operated as a private club that restricted membership for reasons other than capacity. “The Paycheck Protection Program was designed to support small business during the COVID-19 Pandemic,” said U.S. Attorney DiGiacomo. “As evidenced by the numerous settlements we have obtained involving PPP loans, this office continues to work tirelessly to recover taxpayer dollars that were improperly obtained by ineligible entities.” 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. This matter was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan W. Ferris and Investigator Margaret McFarland. The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only; there has been no determination or admission of liability. GVC settlement


title: El Salvadoran man pleads guilty to, sentenced for resisting a federal officer and damaging government property

body_text: BUFFALO, N.Y.–U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Manuel De Jesus Jandres Martinez, 33, of El Salvador, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara to depredation of government property, and assaulting, resisting, or impeding a federal officer. He was then sentenced to time served and turned over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement. On December 31, 2025, U.S. Border Patrol agents observed a vehicle registered to Jandres Martinez parked in a hotel parking lot on Millersport Highway in Amherst, NY. Law enforcement approached the vehicle and identified themselves as Border Patrol officers. As they approached, Jandres Martinez started his ignition and tried to escape from the parking lot. In his attempt to flee, he reversed and rammed his car into the Border Patrol vehicle, which was parked behind his car, causing more than $1,000 in damage to the Border Patrol vehicle. Jandres Martinez then actively resisted Border Patrol agents when he got out of his car, ran from the agents into the hotel, and locked himself in a hotel room. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Franz M. Wright. The plea and sentencing are the result of an investigation by U.S. Border Patrol, under the direction of Acting Chief Patrol Agent James D’Amato and Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Acting Special Agent-in-Charge Anthony Patrone. # # # #


title: Cheektowaga man going to prison for pointing a laser at an aircraft

body_text: BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Joseph L. Crapsi, 31, of Cheektowaga, NY, who was convicted of pointing a laser pointer at an aircraft, was sentenced to serve 18 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo. On March 2, 2024, a Delta Airlines flight was in flight and on approach to the Buffalo Niagara International Airport. Crapsi lives in the flight path of the airport and aimed the beam of a green laser pointer at the Delta Flight. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Charles M. Kruly and Craig R. Gestring. The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority Police Department, under the direction of Chief Brian Patterson, the Cheektowaga Police Department, under the direction of Chief Brian Coons, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Allen B. Davis, II. # # # #


title: Canadian-owned companies agree to pay $223,618 to resolve fraud allegations related to receipt of a Small Business Innovation Research program award

body_text: BUFFALO, N.Y.–U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Advanced Global Services, Ltd. (AGS), Paradigm Shift Technologies (PST), and Gennady Yumshtyk (collectively, the defendants) have agreed to pay $223,618 to resolve allegations, arising under the False Claims Act (FCA), that they submitted false claims in connection with a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program award funded by the United States Air Force and the United States Navy. The government alleges that in 2019, AGS obtained an SBIR award to develop certain gun barrel coating technology through the Air Force. To obtain the SBIR award, AGS and its president, Yumshtyk, certified, among other things, that AGS would conduct all research and development in connection with the SBIR award and that it would do so in the United States. The government further alleges that AGS, which was located in Orchard Park, NY, did not, in fact, perform work under the SBIR award. Rather, PST, which is located in Toronto, Canada, performed the SBIR award work out of its Canadian facility. Accordingly, the United States contends that the defendants were not eligible to participate, and receive funding through, the SBIR program. “This Office is committed to holding accountable companies and individuals that misrepresent themselves so that they can participate in important government programs, like SBIR,” said U.S. Attorney DiGiacomo. “Protecting the integrity of the federal procurement process is a top priority for the Air Force Office of Special Investigations,” said Special Agent-in-Charge Sandy Nezi, Air Force Office of Special Investigations. “When contractors misrepresent their eligibility and location of work to secure taxpayer funds, they undermine programs designed to support genuine American small businesses. We will continue to work with our partners to aggressively investigate and hold accountable those who attempt to defraud the Department of the Air Force.” “Schemes that exploit taxpayer funds designated for domestic military innovation do more than violate public trust, they threaten the integrity of our procurement system and undermine our technological edge,” said Special Agent-in-Charge Greg Gross, Economic Crimes Field Office, Naval Criminal Investigative Service. “Alongside our federal partners and the Department of Justice, NCIS will relentlessly pursue those who misrepresent their eligibility to secure research funding meant to deliver advanced, secure capabilities to our warfighters.” The civil settlement resolves allegations brought by the United States in a civil complaint filed on November 24, 2025 in the United States District Court for the Western District of New York, captioned United States v. Advanced Global Systems, Ltd., Paradigm Shift Technologies, Inc., and Gennady Yumshtyk, No. 1:25-cv-01248. The case was investigated at the direction of Special Agent Sandy Nezi, Air Force Office of Special Investigations, Office of Procurement Fraud; Special Agent, Oran Cape, Naval Criminal Investigative Service, Economic Crimes Field Office; and Assistant U.S. Attorney David M. Coriell and Investigator Peggy McFarland of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of New York. The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only; there has been no determination or admission of liability. # # # #


title: Kansas City Woman Indicted for SNAP Benefits Fraud

component: USAO - Missouri, Western

body_text: KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Kansas City woman was indicted by a federal grand jury for one count of theft of government money and four counts of wire fraud related to fraudulently obtaining government benefits. This charge is one of many federal fraud cases pursued under the leadership of President Donald Trump and through the establishment of the Task Force to Eliminate Fraud. Viridiana Luna-Mejia, 34, made fraudulent statements and representations to the Missouri Department of Social Services (DSS) to obtain Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits from 2021 through 2026. The SNAP program is intended to assist low-income individuals who might otherwise experience food insecurity by providing monthly benefits to purchase approved foods and beverages. SNAP recipients are subject to income restrictions and are required to truthfully report all income sources for the household to remain eligible. Recipients must re-certify their eligibility every six months while receiving benefits. Luna-Mejia began receiving SNAP benefits in June of 2021 and continued to receive benefits through 2026. Every year she was required to re-certify the income her household was receiving both on a written form and verified through a phone interview. The re-certifications also ask for information about resources of the household including assets and bank accounts. As part of a broader employment investigation, it was discovered that Luna-Mejia’s employer had removed her from the wage and hour tax reporting required by the State of Missouri. Further investigation determined Luna-Mejia had been receiving wages from that employer the entire time she received SNAP but she did not report it on her recertifications. She also did not report the existence of her bank account in which she deposited her paychecks to further conceal her income. Investigators determined that had she been truthful about her income, she would have been ineligible for nearly $40,000 in benefits she received during that time. The charges contained in this indictment are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence. Under federal statutes, Luna-Mejia is subject to a sentence of up to 20 years in federal prison without parole. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office. This case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Amanda K. Hanson. It was investigated by Department of Homeland Security Homeland Security Investigations and Missouri Department of Social Services. National Fraud Enforcement Division 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: Iowa Man Charged with Travel with Intent to Engage in Illicit Sexual Conduct and Receipt of Child Pornography

body_text: KANSAS CITY, Mo. – An Iowa man has been charged by criminal complaint for travelling with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct and receipt of child pornography over the internet. Lyle M. Moser, 51, appeared in federal court this week on a two-count criminal complaint. According to court documents, Moser drove from Iowa to Kansas City, Mo. to engage in sexual conduct with a minor child. Moser was intercepted by law enforcement. After a forensic examination of Moser’s electronic devices, law enforcement discovered images depicting Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) saved to Moser’s device. The charges contained in this complaint are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Maureen A. Brackett and Kelly Collins. It was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Project Safe Childhood This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab "resources."


title: Four Men Sentenced for Bringing Over 70 kilograms of Marijuana to St. Thomas

component: USAO - Virgin Islands

body_text: St. Thomas, USVI – U.S. Attorney Adam F. Sleeper announced today that James King, Masaca Creque, Dwayne Blash, and Harry Davis were sentenced this week for their roles in bringing a large amount of marijuana to St. Thomas in their checked suitcases through the Cyril E. King airport. On July 8, 2026, Chief U.S. District Court Judge Robert A. Molloy sentenced James King, 46, of St. Thomas, to 18 months imprisonment and three years of supervised release for possession with intent to distribute marijuana. The same day, Judge Molloy sentenced Masaca Creque, 41, of St. Thomas, to 37 months incarceration with 3 years of supervised release for conspiring to possess and possession with intent to distribute marijuana. On July 9, 2026, Chief U.S. District Court Judge Robert A. Molloy sentenced Dwyane Blash, 42, of St. Thomas, to 15 months imprisonment and three years of supervised release for conspiring to possess with intent to distribute marijuana. The same day, Judge Molloy sentenced Harry Daivs, 29, of Atlanta, GA, to 22 months incarceration with 3 years of supervised release for conspiring to possess and possession with intent to distribute marijuana. According to court documents, on November 27, 2025, King, Creque, Blash and Davis arrived at the Cyril E. King Airport in St. Thomas after arriving on a flight from San Franciso, CA. A routine search of passenger luggage revealed what law enforcement believed to be narcotics within several suitcases. The four men were identified as owners of the luggage and escorted to the Customs and Border Protection offices for further inspection. Once searched, officers found over 70 kilograms of marijuana in the group’s checked suitcases. This case was investigated jointly by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Homeland Security Investigations, and Drug Enforcement Administration. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Cherrisse Amaro, Erik Tate and Criminal Chief Kyle Payne.


title: Previously deported illegal alien convicted of multiple violent offenses in Houston area

component: USAO - Texas, Southern

body_text: HOUSTON – A 35-year-old illegal alien from Mexico who unlawfully resided in Houston has pleaded guilty to robbery, carjacking, brandishing a firearm, and illegal reentry. On September 9, 2023, Jose Luis Reyes-Martinez entered the Fiesta Supermarket on Airline Drive in Houston. He brandished a handgun at two employees, forced one into a frozen meat locker, and demanded cash before fleeing on a bicycle. Reyes-Martinez then broke into a nearby residence and held a family hostage at gunpoint for several hours. He tied one of them up, sexually assaulted a woman while again brandishing the firearm, and then stole their car. Forensic analysis on a condom recovered from the assault matched Reyes-Martinez. Authorities had first encountered Reyes-Martinez in Arizona in 2012. He had illegally entered the United States and was subsequently deported. However, law enforcement discovered him in Houston on October 21, 2023. U.S. District Judge Sim Lake will impose sentencing September 24. At that time, Reyes-Martinez faces up to 20, 15, and two years for the robbery, carjacking, and illegal re-entry convictions, respectively. In addition, he will also receive a minimum of seven years and up to life for brandishing a firearm which must be served consecutively to any other prison term imposed. All convictions also carry as possible punishment up to a $250,000 fine. The FBI and Houston Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Francisco J. Rodriguez is prosecuting the case.


title: Illegal reentry into US lands convicted felon in federal prison

body_text: HOUSTON – A 48-year-old illegal alien from Mexico has been sentenced for unlawfully reentering the country again. Juan Francisco Juarez-Rodriguez illegally resided in Houston and pleaded guilty on March 10, 2026. U.S. District Judge George C. Hanks has now ordered Juarez-Rodriguez to serve 57 months in federal prison. As an alien in the United States illegally, he is expected to face removal proceedings following his imprisonment. At the hearing, the court heard additional evidence about his criminal history while illegally present in the United States. Juarez-Rodriguez has prior convictions for carrying a concealed weapon, burglary, criminal mischief, drug charges, resisting an officer, shoplifting, criminal trespass, battery, and illegal reentry. Authorities first removed him from the United States in October 1999, and he repeatedly returned illegally. On January 25, 2023, law enforcement again discovered him in Houston with no authorization to be in the country. Juarez-Rodriguez has been and will remain in custody pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future. Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Enforcement and Removal Operations conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ben Hostetter prosecuted the case. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.


title: Illegal alien gets federal prison time for unlawful reentry into US after seven previous removals

body_text: HOUSTON – A 49-year-old illegal alien from Mexico has been sentenced for unlawfully reentering the country again. Israel Garcia-Garcia illegally resided in Houston and pleaded guilty March 20, 2026. U.S. District Judge Ewing Werlein has now ordered Garcia-Garciato serve 54 months in federal prison. As an illegal alien in the United States illegally, he is expected to face removal proceedings following his imprisonment. At the hearing, the court heard additional evidence about his criminal history while illegally present in the United States. Garcia-Garcia has prior convictions for illegal reentry and transporting illegal aliens. Authorities removed him from the United States seven times since the first instance in February 2008. He repeatedly returned illegally. On December 25, 2025, law enforcement again discovered him in Houston with no authorization to be in the country. Garcia-Garcia has been and will remain in custody pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future. Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Enforcement and Removal Operations conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ben Hostetter and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Robin Whitney prosecuted the case. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.


title: 185 more charged in new cases related to continuing efforts to secure southern border

body_text: HOUSTON – In support of Operation Take Back America, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for Southern District of Texas has filed another 181 cases in immigration and border security-related matters from July 3-9. The cases include charges against 21 people allegedly involved in human smuggling. A total of 33 criminal complaints were filed for illegal entry, while another 129 people face charges of felony reentry after prior removal. Most of those individuals have prior felonies related to narcotics, violent crime, immigration offenses, and more. The remaining cases charged this week involve other immigration crimes. As part of these new matters, two illegal aliens from Mexico have been charged with unlawfully reentering the country. Authorities had just removed Gilberto Cuenca-Pedroza on May 6 but found him again in the United States near La Joya, Texas. Wilson Perez-Landeros had also been previously removed, but law enforcement discovered him near Rio Grande City, according to the criminal complaint. The charges further allege Cuenca-Pedroza and Perez-Landeros both have prior narcotics convictions, distribution of heroin and meth, respectively. If convicted of illegally reentering the United States without authorization, both face up to 20 years in federal prison. In addition to these new cases, a federal jury in Corpus Christi convicted a 46-year-old Honduran national of illegally reentering the United States after a one-day trial and 15 minutes of deliberation. Carlos Lopez-Mejia fled on foot following a traffic stop before authorities apprehended him. The jury heard evidence of his two prior removals in 2001 and 2019. In Laredo, Guatemalan human smugglers Agapito Jorge Ventura and Oswaldo Manuel Zavala Quino pleaded guilty in a scheme tied to a tractor-trailer crash that killed more than 50 people and injured over 100 more. They conspired with others to transport illegal aliens, including unaccompanied minors, from Guatemala through Mexico to the United States. They recruited individuals, collected payment, and arranged travel via foot and various other forms of transportation. In some cases, they provided scripted language if authorities apprehended them. Both face up to life in prison at the time of their sentencing. Also of note was the sentencing of Mexican national Ivan Garcia-Lopez in Houston. The court considered the dangerousness of his other crimes and lack of respect for the law before imposing the 60-month sentence. Garcia-Lopez has previous convictions for illegal reentry, engaging in organized crime, and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. The cases are referred or supported by federal law enforcement partners, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations, ICE - Enforcement and Removal Operations, Border Patrol, Drug Enforcement Administration, FBI, U.S. Marshals Service and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives with additional assistance from state and local law enforcement partners. The cases are part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Under current leadership, public safety and a secure border are the top priorities for the Southern District. Enhanced enforcement both at the border and in the interior of the district have yielded aliens engaged in unlawful activity or with serious criminal histories, including convictions for human trafficking, sexual assault, and violence against children. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas remains one of the busiest in the nation. It represents 43 counties and more than 10 million people covering 44,000 square miles. Assistant U.S. Attorneys from all seven divisions including Houston, Galveston, Victoria, Corpus Christi, Brownsville, McAllen, and Laredo work directly with our law enforcement partners on the federal, state, and local levels to prosecute the suspected offenders of these and other federal crimes. An indictment or criminal complaint is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.


title: Former Afghan General And First Deputy House Speaker Extradited To U.S. To Face Charges Of Conspiring To Traffic Hundreds Of Kilograms Of Heroin And Methamphetamine And Provide Arsenal Of Military-Grade Weaponry

component: USAO - New York, Southern

body_text: United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, Acting Attorney General for the United States, Todd Blanche, and Administrator of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”), Terrance C. Cole, announced today the unsealing of a Complaint charging ABDUL ZAHIR QADEER, a/k/a “Haji Abdul Zahir,” a former general in Afghanistan’s Border Force and First Deputy Speaker of Afghanistan’s National Assembly’s House of the People, with conspiring to import heroin and methamphetamine and related firearms offenses. QADEER was presented earlier today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Henry J. Ricardo and ordered detained pending trial, following his arrest in Nairobi, Kenya, on April 15, 2025 and extradition to the United States on July 10, 2026. “Abdul Zahir Qadeer, a former high-ranking Afghan government official, allegedly also held a dual role as a large-scale international narcotics and military-grade weapons trafficker,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “In an attempt to traffic massive amounts of poison and weaponry—including heavy machine guns and rocket-propelled grenade launchers—Qadeer allegedly sold a two-kilogram test shipment to a buyer, which was delivered in South Africa. Unbeknownst to Qadeer, that buyer was working with the DEA. The scale of potential devastation Qadeer was attempting to bring to the U.S. is terrifying. This brazen effort underscores the need for the commitment and expertise of our career prosecutors and DEA partners.” “While purporting to be a political leader of Afghanistan, Abdul Zahir Qadeer was allegedly leading a criminal enterprise dealing in dangerous and addictive narcotics and heavy weapons,” said Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche. “The Drug Enforcement Administration led an investigation that ended Qadeer’s audacious criminal activity, and now he will face justice in the United States.” “The world is safer now that Abdul Zahir Qadeer is facing justice in the United States,” said DEA Administrator Terrance C. Cole. “As a former General for Afghanistan’s Border Force, Qadeer was entrusted to protect his country's borders—instead, he exploited his position to facilitate drug and weapons trafficking that fueled violence and instability. Make no mistake; we will use the full weight of the United States government to bring such individuals to justice. No matter where you are, no matter how powerful you think you are—you are not out of our reach.” According to the allegations contained in the Complaint and other public filings:(1) QADEER is a former member of Afghanistan’s National Assembly, which functioned as the legislature of Afghanistan until the Taliban regained control of the country in or about August 2021, and he was elected First Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly’s House of the People in or about 2012. QADEER previously served as a general in Afghanistan’s Border Force, a paramilitary police organization responsible for securing Afghanistan’s border, commanding its Eighth Border Battalion in Takhar Province, Afghanistan. QADEER is pictured below, dressed in blue, toward the left of the image: QADEER was also, until his arrest, a large-scale international narcotics and weapons trafficker. As alleged in the Complaint, QADEER engaged in extensive negotiations with an individual who purported to be a member of an international drug trafficking organization (the “DTO”) but, unbeknownst to QADEER, was in fact a confidential source (“CS-1”) working at the direction of the DEA. In or about November 2024, CS-1 began communicating with QADEER about their potential partnership in trafficking hundreds of kilograms of heroin and methamphetamine for importation into and sale in the United States for the purported DTO. As an early step in their partnership, on or about December 10, 2024, QADEER sold a two-kilogram test shipment of methamphetamine delivered to CS-1’s associate in Johannesburg, South Africa, in exchange for approximately $14,000. Thereafter, QADEER continued to negotiate with CS-1 regarding the sale to the DTO of hundreds of kilograms of heroin and methamphetamine, along with hundreds of heavy machine guns, assault rifles, sniper rifles, rocket-propelled grenade launchers, pistols, and grenades, which CS-1 represented would be used by the DTO to protect its drug trafficking activities from interdiction by the United States government. Pictured below is a purported weapons order from CS-1 that QADEER agreed to fulfill: Upon receiving the weapons order, QADEER provided CS-1 with quotes of how much he would charge to source each weapon, including, for example, $11,579 for one sniper rifle, $9,670 for one type of machine gun, and $1,770 for 10 grenades in one box. In or about April 2025, QADEER attended a meeting in Nairobi, Kenya, with several individuals who he believed to be members of the DTO he would supply with narcotics and weapons. In reality, it was a meeting between QADEER and multiple DEA confidential sources. Kenyan law enforcement officers arrested QADEER immediately following the meeting. * * * ABDUL ZAHIR QADEER, 52, of Afghanistan, has been charged with narcotics importation conspiracy, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life in prison; using and carrying machine guns and destructive devices during, and possessing machine guns and destructive devices in furtherance of, the narcotics-importation conspiracy, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 30 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life in prison; and conspiring to use and carry machine guns and destructive devices during, and possess machine guns and destructive devices in furtherance of, the narcotics-importation conspiracy, which carries a maximum sentence of life in prison. The statutory maximum and mandatory minimum penalties in this case are prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by a judge. Mr. Clayton praised the outstanding efforts of the DEA’s Special Operations Division Bilateral Investigations Unit. Mr. Clayton also thanked the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Tactical Aviation Unit, which assisted with QADEER’s extradition to the United States from Kenya; the Office of International Affairs of the Department of Justice’s Criminal Division; and Kenya’s Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions and Directorate of Criminal Investigations for their assistance. The prosecution is being handled by the Office’s National Security and International Narcotics Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jonathan L. Bodansky and Chelsea L. Scism are in charge of the prosecution. The charges contained in the Complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. ^ As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Complaint and the description of the Complaint set forth herein constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.


title: Chief Financial Officer Pleads Guilty To Conspiracy To Launder $67 Million Dollars In Fraud Proceeds

body_text: United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, announced that WEIDONG GUAN, a/k/a “Bill Guan,” the former Chief Financial Officer of The Epoch Times Association, Inc. (the “Epoch Times”), an international media company headquartered in New York, New York, pled guilty yesterday to participating in a conspiracy to engage in transactions involving criminal proceeds as part of a transnational scheme to launder at least approximately $67 million of illegally obtained funds to benefit, among others, the Epoch Times. GUAN pled guilty before District Judge Victor Marrero. Sentencing has not yet been scheduled. “Weidong Guan orchestrated an elaborate multimillion-dollar money laundering scheme to increase revenues at the company where he served as Chief Financial Officer,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “Corporate leaders like Guan should take notice: boosting revenues through crime will not pay. This Office is committed to holding perpetrators of financial crimes accountable and compensating victims.” According to the charging documents and statements made in public filings and public court proceedings: From at least in or about 2019, through in or about May 2024, GUAN, while serving as Chief Financial Officer of the Epoch Times, conspired with others to participate in a sprawling, international scheme to launder at least approximately $67 million of illegally obtained funds to bank accounts in the names of the Epoch Times and related entities. GUAN did so by using the Epoch Times’ funds to purchase crime proceeds loaded onto gift cards and prepaid debit cards at discounted rates of approximately 70 to 80 cents on the dollar, and then laundering those crime proceeds back to the Epoch Times under the guise of fake “donations” to the Epoch Times. When banks notified GUAN that the transactions at issue were suspicious and asked GUAN to explain their source, GUAN knowingly misled the banks to believe the transactions were legitimate rather than criminal. * * * GUAN, 63, of Secaucus, New Jersey, pled guilty to one count of conspiring to engage in transactions involving criminal proceeds, which carries a maximum sentence of ten years in prison. GUAN also agreed to forfeit at least $67 million, representing property involved in the offense, and separately to pay restitution up to $67 million. The criminal conduct at issue does not relate to the Epoch Times’ newsgathering activities. The maximum potential sentence in this case is prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge. One of GUAN’s co-conspirators, Le Van Hung, a/k/a “Hung Van Le,” a/k/a “Van Hung Le,” pled guilty on June 29, 2026, to participating in a conspiracy to commit identity theft based on his role in the money laundering scheme. HUNG is scheduled to be sentenced on October 9, 2026. Mr. Clayton praised the outstanding investigative work of the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, the Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service, and the Special Agents of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York. The case is being handled by the Office’s Public Corruption Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Benjamin M. Burkett, Rebecca T. Dell, Paul M. Monteleoni, Daniel C. Richenthal, and Amanda C. Weingarten are in charge of the prosecution, with the assistance of Paralegal Specialists William Spehr and Emma Vorchheimer.


title: Former Pinckneyville Correctional Center employee pleads guilty to falsifying husband’s timesheets causing $124,000 loss to the State of Illinois

component: USAO - Illinois, Southern

body_text: BENTON, Ill. – A former account technician at Pinckneyville Correctional Center, which is a part of the Illinois Department of Corrections, appeared in district court to plead guilty to federal charges for wire fraud and misapplication of property from federally funded programs. Maggi R. Tudor, 34, began working as an Account Technician at Pinckneyville Correctional Center (PCC) in 2022. At the time, Tudor’s husband was employed as a Correctional Officer at Murphysboro Life Skills Reentry Center, which is a satellite facility of PCC. According to court documents, Tudor acted as a timekeeper and backup payroll clerk for PCC and Murphysboro Life Skills Reentry Center. Tudor admitted to abusing her position of trust as an Account Technician to falsely modify her husband’s timesheets, so he obtained higher payroll payments he was not entitled to. Tudor manipulated her husband’s timesheets to make it appear her husband worked overtime and holiday hours he did not work. In all, Tudor caused a loss to the State of Illinois in the amount of $124,917.35. “Fraud against taxpayers is a high priority for the Department of Justice,” said U.S. Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft. “Tudor siphoned hard-earned taxpayer dollars for personal gain. Public service is a privilege, not a personal piggy bank. We will continue to safeguard every taxpayer dollar and hold those who abuse their positions fully accountable.” "The Illinois State Police is dedicated to upholding public integrity and pursues any state employee committing criminal behavior," said Illinois State Police Director Brendan F. Kelly. Tudor’s sentencing hearing is set for November 9, 2026 at 9:30 AM in Benton. Illinois State Police is leading the investigation, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathleen Howard 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.


title: Carbondale store owner sentenced to 46-month imprisonment and ordered to pay over $560,000 in restitution for fraudulent SNAP benefits scheme

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: BENTON, Ill. – A federal district judge sentenced a Carbondale store owner to 46 months’ imprisonment after he admitted to fraudulently acquiring Supplemental Nutrition Assistant Program (“SNAP”) benefits he and his store were not entitled to receive. Dean A. Amley, 61, pleaded guilty in March 2025 to one count for Conspiracy to Commit Food Stamp Fraud, one count of Unauthorized Acquisition of SNAP Benefits, and seven counts of Money Laundering. Following imprisonment, Amley will serve 3 years on supervised release. The judge also ordered Amley to pay $564,936.19 in restitution. “Defendant’s fraudulent scheme not only stole taxpayer dollars, it violated the public’s trust in systems designed to support our most vulnerable, said U.S. Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft. “This sentence reflects our office’s commitment to protecting essential public resources and ensuring that those who exploit programs meant to help families in need are held fully accountable.” From March 1, 2014 to December 21, 2020, Amley along with his employees operated a business in Carbondale, Illinois known as East Main Shell, Inc. d/b/a Egyptian Corner. During this time, Amley and his employees conducted a fraudulent scheme whereby Amley would purchase SNAP benefits from their customers and then unlawfully use those SNAP benefits to purchase inventory for Egyptian Corner. Amley also permitted customers to unlawfully use SNAP benefits to purchase prohibited or ineligible items such as tobacco products and alcoholic beverages. “Illinois SNAP recipients were for years ripped off by this criminal who used his store, Egyptian Corner, to steal from them,” said USDA Inspector General John Walk. “Instead of using his Food and Nutrition Administration SNAP retailer authorization to provide eligible food to needy Illinois residents, the convict took federal reimbursement for selling unlawful items and laundered SNAP benefits through other retail locations to enrich himself. USDA OIG special agents went to work with federal partners and now he’ll do the time – 46 months in federal prison, 3 years of supervised release, $564,936.19 in restitution, and $489,936.18 forfeited. Working with VP Vance and WH Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, USDA OIG will do the work to send fraudsters in Illinois or anywhere else to prison.” “Amley didn’t just break the law, he stole from a federal program funded by taxpayers who expect those dollars to be used for their intended purpose,” said FBI Springfield Field Office Special Agent in Charge Ryan Presley. “He used his business to divert SNAP funds for himself, and that kind of abuse undermines trust in systems meant to help people who truly qualify for assistance. The FBI Springfield Field Office, working alongside our law enforcement partners, will continue to pursue those who think they can cheat federal benefit programs and walk away with a profit.” USDA OIG and FBI led this investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathleen Howard prosecuted the case. On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division. The core mission of the Fraud Division is to zealously investigate and prosecute those who steal or fraudulently misuse taxpayer dollars. Department of Justice efforts to combat fraud support President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.


title: U.S. Attorney’s Office Filed 151 Border-Related Cases This Week

component: USAO - California, Southern

body_text: SAN DIEGO – Federal prosecutors in the Southern District of California filed 151 border-related cases this week, including charges of bringing in aliens for financial gain, reentering the U.S. after deportation, and importation of controlled substances. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of California is the fourth-busiest federal district, largely due to a high volume of border-related crimes. This district, encompassing San Diego and Imperial counties, shares a 140-mile border with Mexico. It includes the San Ysidro Port of Entry, the world’s busiest land border crossing, connecting San Diego (America’s eighth largest city) and Tijuana (Mexico’s second largest city). In addition to reactive border-related crimes, the Southern District of California also prosecutes a significant number of proactive cases related to terrorism, organized crime, drugs, white-collar fraud, violent crime, cybercrime, human trafficking and national security. Recent developments in those and other significant areas of prosecution can be found here . A sample of border-related arrests this week: On July 2, Julio Villa-Urzua, a Mexican national, was arrested and charged with Importation of a Controlled Substance. According to a complaint, Customs and Border Protection officers discovered 929 pounds – 28 buckets – of liquid methamphetamine dissolved into the fluid of the passenger-side fuel tank of a semi-truck driven by Villa-Urzua while applying for entry to the U.S. at the Otay Import Cargo Facility Port of Entry. On July 4, Edgar Clemente Gonzalez Huales, a Guatemalan national, was arrested and charged with Transportation of Illegal Aliens. According to a complaint, a Border Patrol agent made a traffic stop of Gonzales Huales’ vehicle in Boulevard. The defendant stopped briefly, ordered two undocumented aliens to exit his car and run, and then sped away in his white BMW sedan. The defendant was apprehended two days later, on July 6, after agents used a spike strip to disable his vehicle. On July 7, Geronimo Benitez Velazquez, a Mexican national, was arrested and charged with Deported Alien Found in the United States. According to a complaint, U.S. Border Patrol agents encountered the undocumented defendant hiding under a tree approximately 500 yards north of the U.S.-Mexico border, three miles east of the Tecate Port of Entry. He was previously deported in April 2026 from San Diego. The immigration cases were referred or supported by federal law enforcement partners, including Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE ERO), Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Border Patrol, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), with the support and assistance of state and local law enforcement partners. Indictments and criminal complaints are merely allegations and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: United States Files False Claims Act Complaint Against Founder of Cannabis Companies for Illegally Obtaining Pandemic Loans

body_text: SAN DIEGO – The United States has filed a complaint under the False Claims Act (FCA) against Laurie Holcomb, founder of multiple cannabis companies, alleging that she illegally obtained five pandemic-related loans from the federal government. The United States alleges that Holcomb secured $1.4 million in federally-guaranteed Paycheck Protection Program loans, and subsequent forgiveness of the loans, by falsely certifying under penalty of perjury on loan applications that the businesses were not involved in illegal activity. In fact, Holcomb and her companies were engaged in the cultivation, distribution, and retail sale of recreational cannabis and cannabis products, which is illegal under federal law. Congress created the Paycheck Protection Program, or PPP, in March 2020, as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, to provide emergency financial support to eligible small businesses experiencing economic hardship caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Small Business Administration (SBA) administers the PPP. Due to its status as a Schedule I controlled substance under the United States Controlled Substances Act, the manufacture, distribution, dispensation, and possession of cannabis, with the exception of use in federal government-approved research, is illegal under federal law. SBA eligibility rules generally excluded a business from eligibility for PPP loans if the business engaged in activities involving federally illegal cannabis, even if state law permitted cultivation or sale. The government’s complaint alleges that Ms. Holcomb, a resident of Huntington Beach, California, obtained loans for the following businesses she founded and controlled: Gold Flora LLC; GF Distribution LLC; Gold Flora Partners LLC; and Black Lion Farms LLC - collectively known as the “Gold Flora Companies”. The Gold Flora Companies have since filed for receivership in California State Superior Court. As alleged in the United States’ complaint against Ms. Holcomb, the Gold Flora Companies’ petition in support of receivership stated that Gold Flora LLC and Black Lion Farms LLC, along with other affiliate entities, could not file for bankruptcy protection due to the illegality of cannabis under federal law. The United States filed its complaint in a lawsuit originally brought under the qui tam or whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act. Under the act, a private party can file an action on behalf of the United States and receive a portion of any recovery. The act permits the United States to intervene in such lawsuits, as it has done in this case. The qui tam case is captioned U.S. ex rel. Aidan Forsyth v. Gold Flora LLC , et al., No. 23cv1962-W (MMP) (S.D. Cal.). This matter is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph P. Price Jr. Tips and complaints from all sources about potential fraud affecting COVID-19 government relief programs can be reported by visiting the webpage of the Civil Division’s Fraud Section, which can be found here . The claims asserted in the complaint are allegations only. There has been no determination of liability


title: Former Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office “No Show” Cousin and Chaplain Sentenced in Public Corruption Scheme Orchestrated by former Sheriff Chuck Wright

body_text: GREENVILLE, S.C. — Lawson B. Watson, 74, of Reidville, and Amos Durham, 62, of Woodruff, were sentenced for their roles in a public corruption scheme led by former Spartanburg County Sheriff Chuck Wright, who was sentenced on Tuesday to 41 months in federal prison. Chief District Court Judge Timothy M. Cain sentenced Watson to 16 months in federal prison, the top end of the recommended sentencing range under the United States Sentencing Guidelines, as well as a three-year term of supervised release. Watson was also ordered to pay $349,885.22 in restitution. The Court also ordered that Watson make monthly payments of $2,000 in restitution payments upon his release from federal prison, and he was ordered to pay $80,000 in restitution by the close of business on the day of his sentencing. Durham was the only defendant of the three who was eligible for a probationary sentence pursuant to the United States Sentencing Guidelines. Judge Cain sentenced Durham to five years of probation, the maximum term of probation allowed by statute. Durham was also ordered to pay $95,442.39 in restitution. Durham will begin paying $3,000 a month towards restitution until it is satisfied within the next 60 days. “The taxpayers of Spartanburg County and the members of the Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office deserved better, and these defendants have now been held accountable for their roles in Chuck Wright’s schemes,” said U.S. Attorney Bryan Stirling for the District of South Carolina. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office as well as our state and federal law enforcement partners will remain ‘at the ready,’ continuing to investigate and prosecute public corruption in South Carolina.” According to court documents, from 2021-2025, Watson receiving an annual salary of $57,000 with full benefits, a county-issued Chevrolet Tahoe maintained by the county, with unlimited access to taxpayer-funded gas. In return, Watson was a no-show employee for four years, failing to work in his county capacity. Instead, Watson used his county-issued Tahoe and phone to run his own grading business, including by listing his county-issued phone as the contact number for his private business, and he had a county employee prepare quotes and bids for his grading business. As the record revealed, Watson did not check his county email, he did not know how to submit a time sheet, and employees reported not seeing him at the sheriff’s office for several years. Durham, while serving as the senior chaplain for SCSO, in another fraudulent scheme led by Wright, oversaw the Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office Chaplain’s Benevolence Fund. The Benevolence Fund is non-profit organization that provides financial assistance to SCSO deputies and their families during times of need, such as bereavement, financial difficulties, and traumatic line-of-duty events. Wright directed Durham to withdraw cash from the fund and cut checks to Wright, which Wright used for his own personal enrichment, to include the purchase of illegal opioids instead of assisting deputies and their families in need. When one employee’s family approached the chaplain seeking assistance to cover hospice bills from the Benevolence Fund for help covering hospice bills, they were turned away because the fund was empty. When a deputy asked for assistance with bills associated with a tree that fell on the deputy’s house, they were also turned away. Around the same time, Wright took more than $89,000 donated cash from the Benevolence Fund for his private use. Wright also used the fund for personal purchases and expenses, to include hotel rooms, food, and travel bills. Durham also used the fund for pay for just over $3,000 for his own personal expenses, to include payments to Joseph A. Bank Clothiers, Discount Tire, and Lenscrafters. The case was investigated by the FBI Columbia Field Office, the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED), and the office of 10th Circuit Solicitor Micah Black. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lothrop Morris and Criminal Chief Elliott B. Daniels prosecuted the case. ###


title: Methamphetamine Trafficker Will Spend 12 Years in Prison

component: USAO - West Virginia, Northern

body_text: WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – After selling methamphetamine from her New Martinsville, West Virginia apartment, Jamie Ann Tanner was sentenced to 151 months in federal prison, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew L. Harvey. Tanner, 44, previously pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. She sold methamphetamine on several occasions to a confidential informant and was found with additional quantities of the drug during a traffic stop. The investigation led officers to her apartment, where they executed a search warrant. Officers seized approximately 31 small plastic baggies containing about 3.7 grams of methamphetamine each, a larger bag with more of the substance, and hundreds of unused baggies. A black safe in the room, with the keys still inserted, contained an additional two pounds of methamphetamine and $2,674 in cash. Assistant U.S. Attorney Clayton Reid prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. Investigative agencies include Marshall County Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative; the Tyler County Sheriff’s Office; and the Wetzel County Sheriff’s Office. This case is a part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime, and repel the invasion of illegal immigration. U.S. District Judge John Preston Bailey presided.


title: Man Sentenced for Trafficking Fentanyl Within   1,000 Feet of Elementary School

body_text: WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – The final defendant in a drug trafficking operation that stretched from Cleveland, Ohio, to the Ohio Valley was sentenced today, U.S. Attorney Matthew L. Harvey announced. Joshua Carney, 32, of Wheeling, West Virginia, was sentenced to 60 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine base, fentanyl, and heroin and the distribution of 5 grams or more of methamphetamine within 1,000 feet of a protected location. The investigation began in January 2024 after reports of drug activity at Carney’s residence on Wetzel Street in Wheeling. A traffic stop of two individuals leaving the home resulted in the seizure of more than $5,000 in cash and multiple cell phones. A search warrant executed at the residence led officers to Carney and a co-defendant hiding in a utility closet and resulted in the seizure of cocaine base and fentanyl. Throughout the investigation, the Ohio Valley Drug Task Force conducted controlled drug purchases, including more than 5 grams of methamphetamine Carney sold near Ritchie Elementary School. The other three defendants in this case have been convicted and sentenced for their roles. Rahim Duncan, 32, of Cleveland, Ohio, was sentenced to 63 months in prison in October 2025. Terrell Sparks, 30, also from Cleveland, Ohio, was sentenced in January 2026 to 41 months in federal prison. Tyshaun Johnson, 30, of Wheeling, West Virginia, was sentenced to 115 months in prison in March 2026. Assistant U.S. Attorney Clayton Reid prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. The Ohio Valley Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, investigated. Fentanyl has been designated by President Donald Trump as a weapon of mass destruction due to its extreme lethality which poses a grave threat to public safety, even in trace amounts. This case is part of Operation Take Back America , a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime, and repel the invasion of illegal immigration. U.S. District Judge John Preston Bailey presided.


title: Drugs, Firearms Secure Lengthy Prison Sentence

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

body_text: CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – A Harrison County man was sentenced for selling fentanyl and methamphetamine while carrying firearms, U.S. Attorney Matthew L. Harvey announced. Matthew Ryan Lester, 34, of Clarksburg, West Virginia, was sentenced to 180 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute more than 50 grams of methamphetamine and more than 40 grams of fentanyl, and for possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug crime. Lester sold methamphetamine and fentanyl in Harrison County. Separate searches of his home and vehicle uncovered 900 grams of methamphetamine, 240 grams of fentanyl, multiple firearms, and more than $8,000. “Drug dealers who bring fentanyl and methamphetamine into our communities will face serious consequences,” said U.S. Attorney Matthew L. Harvey. “Our office will continue to aggressively target those pushing these deadly substances while illegally possessing firearms.” Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen Warner prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the Greater Harrison Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative; and the Philippi Police Department investigated. Fentanyl has been designated by President Donald Trump as a weapon of mass destruction due to its extreme lethality which poses a grave threat to public safety, even in trace amounts. This case is part of Operation Take Back America , a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime, and repel the invasion of illegal immigration. Chief U.S. District Judge Thomas S. Kleeh presided.


title: Department of Justice announces the results of Operation Spring Cleaning

body_text: The Department of Justice announced the results of Operation Spring Cleaning, a nationwide initiative spearheaded by the FBI to combat gang-related threats and enhance public safety. The operation coordinated with federal, state, and local law enforcement and targeted the illegal flow of firearms and narcotics in our communities. The operation began on March 1 and ended May 31. In total, Operation Spring Cleaning led to over 1100 arrests, over 600 charges filed, and almost 600 search warrants conducted. The operation also resulted in the seizure of: Almost 1000 illegal firearms, dozens of which were equipped with machine gun conversion devices (MCDs) as well as over 75 stand-alone MCDs Over 2,700 pounds of illegal narcotics including: Over 500 kilograms of cocaine or more than 1100 pounds Nearly 700 pounds of methamphetamine Over 550 pounds of marijuana Nearly 50 kilograms of fentanyl or more than 100 pounds Almost 40 kilograms of heroin or more than 85 pounds More than 7 kilograms of crack cocaine or more than 16 pounds More than 13,200 pills of MDMA, also known as ecstasy or molly “When our neighborhoods are safe from the scourge of deadly drugs, individuals and families can prosper,” said Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche. “The Trump Administration has made significant progress in removing this poison from our streets, a key step in our commitment to making America safe again.” “This FBI understands that communities across our country have been ravaged by gangs and the firearms and narcotics they flood our streets with,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “Operation Spring Cleaning represents our total commitment to crushing this kind of violent crime and eliminating the criminal networks who facilitate them – with over 1,000 arrests, 1,000 firearms seized, and 3,000 pounds of narcotics removed from our neighborhoods. Righteous operations like this show this FBI is only getting started and will continue delivering the most prolific run of crime reduction in U.S. history.” “These operations underscore our commitment to removing illegal guns and drugs from our streets so that we can all live in a safer community,” said United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Ryan Raybould. “We are proud to work alongside our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners as we continue to fight for and protect North Texans.” “Operation Spring Cleaning is another example of how the FBI is working with our partners to combat illegal gang activity,” said FBI Dallas Special Agent in Charge R. Joseph Rothrock. “We will continue to work together to reduce violent crime and increase safety in our North Texas communities.” In the Northern District of Texas, 27 individuals were arrested and charged as part of Operation Spring Cleaning, announced U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Ryan Raybould and said FBI Dallas Special Agent in Charge R. Joseph Rothrock. Additionally, FBI Dallas conducted 44 operations during Operation Spring Cleaning. After executing 6 search warrants, investigators seized approximately 5.35 kilograms of cocaine, 27.3 pounds methamphetamine, 127.9 pounds marijuana, $273,000 of US Currency, $20,000 worth of jewelry, a Mercedes Benz, and 73 firearms and machine-gun conversion devices. Guns and drugs seized by FBI Dallas Field Office during Operation Spring Cleaning Guns, drugs, money, and jewelry seized by FBI Dallas Field Office during Operation Spring Cleaning ###


title: Dallas Man Federally Indicted for His Role in an Alleged Precious Metals Scam Targeting Elderly Victims

body_text: A Dallas man was federally indicted on May 20, 2026, for his role in an alleged precious metals scam targeting elderly victims, announced United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Ryan Raybould. Damien Moran, 36, was indicted with ten counts of wire fraud. On June 17, 2026, he made his initial appearance before United States Magistrate Judge Brian McKay. According to the indictment, Moran allegedly owned and operated several companies that targeted elderly individuals to use their retirement savings to purchase precious metals, such as gold and silver coins, from his companies. However, as alleged in the indictment, Moran fraudulently sold the precious metals at significantly inflated prices without disclosing the markups to his customers. Additionally, as alleged in the indictment, Moran, on several occasions, failed to deliver the precious metals his customers had purchased. “This office is committed to standing up and protecting seniors and elderly folks from scams,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan Raybould. “Those in North Texas should read this indictment as a sign of things to come. If you have or plan to target seniors and elderly folks, we will find you, charge you, and seek stiff prison sentences.” “This indictment demonstrates the lengths to which some criminals will go to defraud vulnerable members of our communities,” said FBI Dallas Special Agent in Charge R. Joseph Rothrock. “The FBI encourages the public to thoroughly research any investment opportunity and to contact us immediately if they suspect fraud." If convicted, Moran faces up to 20 years in federal prison for each wire fraud count. The FBI Dallas Field Office conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Marty Basu is prosecuting the case. An indictment is merely an allegation of criminal conduct, not evidence. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Amarillo Man Sentenced to 40 Years in Federal Prison for Transportation of Child Pornography

component: USAO - Texas, Northern

body_text: A convicted sex offender residing in Amarillo was sentenced to 40 years in federal prison and ordered to pay restitution for transporting child sexual abuse material, announced United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Ryan Raybould. In January 2026, Matthew Albert Tate, 57, pled guilty to transportation of child pornography. He was sentenced on May 27, 2026, to 480 months in federal prison by United States District Judge Matthew J. Kacsmaryk. The Court also ordered him to pay $96,500 in restitution. “This defendant chose time and time again to abuse children and proliferate sexual abuse material online. He will, rightly so, spend the rest of his life behind bars,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan Raybould. “The judge in this case also ordered that he pay restitution back to the victims for his heinous crimes. My office has and will continue to fight every day for victims of child abuse. I’m proud of the AUSA prosecuting this case – she is simply a warrior for some of the most vulnerable folks in our communities – and I thank the great agents who work tirelessly, often at a severe personal cost, to ensure that justice is done for the child victims. NDTX is lucky to have these public servants fighting on behalf of our communities.” “There is no greater betrayal than the sexual exploitation of a child and further contributing to their continued victimization through the distribution of child sexual abuse material,” said Travis Pickard, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations Dallas. “This sentence reflects the devastating harm these crimes inflict on children and sends a clear message to those who prey on our most vulnerable: HSI and its law enforcement partners will ensure you face the full force of the law for your horrific acts .” According to court records, in April 2025, law enforcement initiated an investigation into child pornography trafficking from an IP address in the Amarillo area. The user of the IP address was identified as Matthew Albert Tate. Tate was a registered sex offender for prior criminal convictions involving the sexual abuse of a child and possession of child pornography. The investigation revealed that beginning around January of 2025, Tate used an online file sharing platform to allow other users to download child sexual abuse material, including of prepubescent minors. In May 2025, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Tate’s Amarillo residence wherein they confiscated multiple electronic devices belonging to Tate. A forensic search revealed multiple videos and photographs of child sexual abuse material in violation of federal law. Agents were also able to determine that Tate likely transferred the files from his Dell laptop computer to another electronic storage device using Internet connections and various file-sharing platforms. Tate later admitted to law enforcement that he downloaded and saved child pornography and traded child pornography online. Tate further admitted that he knew what he did was criminal. Additional details about Tate’s background and prior convictions were discussed at his sentencing hearing. In 1997, Tate was arrested for sexually abusing a child younger than 14 and creating child pornography of her. He also possessed child pornography of other victims. The defendant was convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child, indecency with a child, and possession of child pornography for that conduct. He was sentenced to 30 years imprisonment and was paroled in 2021 after serving approximately 24 years. He was on parole and required to register as a sex offender at the time of his arrest in May 2025 for trading child pornography with other online users. Tate also possessed a total of 3,246 individual files of child sexual abuse material on his devices, including material that involved 16 different victims who have been identified through the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Homeland Security Investigations, Dallas Field Office (Amarillo Resident Agency) and the Texas Department of Public Safety conducted the investigation with assistance from the Texas Department of Criminal Justice Parole Division. Assistant U.S. Attorney Callie Woolam prosecuted the case. The Justice Department is committed to combating child sexual exploitation and brought this case as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the 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, visit www.justice.gov/psc . The Department partners with and oversees funding grants for the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), which receives and shares tips about possible child sexual exploitation received through its 24/7 hotline at 1-800-THE-LOST and on missingkids.org. Additional details about Tate’s background and prior convictions were discussed at his sentencing hearing. In 1997, Tate was arrested for sexually abusing a child younger than 14 and creating child pornography of her. He also possessed child pornography of other victims. The defendant was convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child, indecency with a child, and possession of child pornography for that conduct. He was sentenced to 30 years imprisonment and was paroled in 2021 after serving approximately 24 years. He was on parole and required to register as a sex offender at the time of his arrest in May 2025 for trading child pornography with other online users. Tate also possessed a total of 3,246 individual files of child sexual abuse material on his devices, including material that involved 16 different victims who have been identified through the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Homeland Security Investigations, Dallas Field Office (Amarillo Resident Agency) and the Texas Department of Public Safety conducted the investigation with assistance from the Texas Department of Criminal Justice Parole Division. Assistant U.S. Attorney Callie Woolam prosecuted the case. The Justice Department is committed to combating child sexual exploitation and brought this case as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the 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, visit www.justice.gov/psc . The Department partners with and oversees funding grants for the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), which receives and shares tips about possible child sexual exploitation received through its 24/7 hotline at 1-800-THE-LOST and on missingkids.org.


title: Prior Felon from Locust Grove Sentenced to More than Twenty Years in Prison

body_text: TULSA, Okla. – A Locust Grove man was sentenced today for possessing methamphetamine and being a felon in possession of a firearm while drug trafficking, announced U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson. U.S. District Judge Gregory K. Frizzell sentenced Jason Dewayne Glass, 42, for Possession of Methamphetamine, Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime, and Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition. Glass was ordered to serve 248 months imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release. In September 2024, Cherokee Nation Marshals executed a search warrant at Glass’s home. During a search of his home, Marshals found 88 grams of methamphetamine and numerous firearms. In the plea agreement, Glass admitted to knowing he was not allowed to carry a firearm and that he carried a loaded pistol on him for protection while selling methamphetamine. At sentencing, the Court found sufficient evidence to show that Glass had used one of the firearms during the commission of an aggravated sexual assault, and that the victim sustained serious bodily injury. Court documents show that Glass has a lengthy criminal history. He has a prior conviction for manufacturing a controlled substance, being a felon in possession of a firearm, assaulting a police officer, pointing a firearm at law enforcement, and being shot in return, as well as numerous assault and battery convictions. Glass will remain in custody pending transfer to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons. The Cherokee National Marshal Service investigated the case with assistance from the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation and the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stacey Todd prosecuted the case.