title: Taiwan LED Manufacturer Agrees to $5.15M Settlement of False Claims Act and Administrative Allegations of Evading Customs Duties

component: USAO - Maryland

body_text: Baltimore, Maryland – The U.S. Attorney’s Office announced, today, that Everlight Electronics, a publicly traded Taiwanese company that manufactures light-emitting diodes (LEDs), and Everlight Americas, its Texas-based subsidiary, agreed to pay the United States $5.15 million to resolve allegations that they violated the False Claims Act, common law, and the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended, by knowingly failing to pay duties owed on LEDs imported from the People’s Republic of China. Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the settlement with Executive Assistant Commissioner Susan S. Thomas, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Office of Trade. “Companies that seek to import goods into the United States must comply with customs laws and pay the rightful duties owed,” Hayes said. “As evidenced by this case, we will use all tools available to identify and hold accountable those who commit trade fraud by falsely identifying the country of origin of imported goods to pay lower customs duties than actually owed.” “Trade fraud undermines the U.S. Government’s ability to collect the proper revenue, hurts legitimate companies, and puts American consumers at risk,” Thomas said. “Trade fraud isn’t a victimless crime, and we work around the clock with our partners to ensure that bad actors face consequences.” When entering goods into the United States, an importer must declare, among other things, the country of origin of the goods, the classification of the goods, whether the goods are subject to duties, and pay the amount of duties owed. CBP collects applicable duties, including Section 301 tariffs imposed by the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative. Section 301 tariffs protect U.S. industry by imposing trade sanctions on foreign countries that violate U.S. trade agreements or engage in other unreasonable acts that burden U.S. commerce. During the relevant time period, Chinese-manufactured LEDs were subject to Section 301 tariffs. The settlement resolves allegations that, from July 2018, through January 2022, Everlight knowingly misrepresented the country of origin on Chinese-manufactured LEDs. More specifically, the U.S. alleged that Everlight knew these products were manufactured in China, and then transshipped to Taiwan, before shipping them to the U.S. Everlight allegedly misrepresented to CBP that the products originated in Taiwan rather than China to avoid paying applicable Section 301 tariffs. The settlement also resolves allegations that, from January 2022, through November 2025, Everlight continued to import LEDs from Taiwan, some of which were manufactured in China based on the country of origin of the dice of the LED, without further segregating the Chinese-made dice from the Taiwanese-made dice during LED manufacturing. This civil settlement includes the resolution of claims brought under the qui tam , or whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act by Tao Wang, a former employee of Everlight. Under those provisions, a private party can file an action on behalf of the United States and receive a portion of any recovery. Relator’s share of the proceeds of the settlement will be $876,146. The qui tam action is captioned United States ex rel. Wang v. Everlight Electronics Co., Ltd., et al., No. TDC-21-cv-1607 (D. Md.). On Aug. 29, 2025, the Department of Justice launched a cross-agency Trade Fraud Task Force to enhance efforts to combat and prevent trade fraud that deprives the government of vital revenue, threatens critical domestic industries, undermines consumer confidence, and weakens national security. The Task Force augments existing coordination mechanisms within the Department of Justice, leveraging expertise from both the Civil and Criminal Divisions, as well as the Department of Homeland Security, to aggressively pursue enforcement actions against any parties who seek to evade tariffs and other duties, as well as smugglers who seek to import prohibited goods into the American economy. The Justice Department encourages whistleblowers to utilize the qui tam provisions of the False Claims Act to alert the government to credible allegations of fraud. U.S. Attorney Hayes commended CBP for its work in the investigation and providing critical support through the Electronic Center of Excellence and Expertise and the Office of Assistant Chief Counsel, Baltimore Northeast Region. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Tarra DeShields and DOJ Trial Attorney Jennifer Chorpening who handled this case. The claims resolved by this settlement are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability. For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to report fraud, please visit justice.gov/usao-md and justice.gov/usao-md/report-fraud . # # #


title: Baltimore Man Sentenced for Drug Trafficking and Firearm Possession Charges

body_text: Baltimore, Maryland – A Baltimore man received a sentence of more than eight years in federal prison, today, for drug trafficking and firearm charges in connection with a local drug trafficking investigation. U.S. District Judge Matthew Maddox sentenced Davon Taylor, 35, to 97 months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for possession with the intent to distribute controlled substances and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. Taylor also agreed that this offense violated the conditions of his federal supervised release. Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the sentence with Special Agent in Charge Charles Doerrer, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and Commissioner Richard Worley, Baltimore Police Department (BPD). According to court documents, on April 9, 2025, law enforcement agents used a surveillance camera to monitor a large Northwest Baltimore parking lot, known as “the panyard.” Agents observed Taylor arrive at the panyard and engage in hand-to-hand drug transactions before removing an object from his waistband. He then placed the object inside of a pizza box on top of a recycling bin. Law enforcement arrested Taylor and then agents recovered a handgun, loaded with a magazine containing 12 rounds of live ammunition, that was reported stolen in May 2022. Agents also searched the area and found a bag containing additional plastic bags with numerous vials and jugs of fentanyl, cocaine, and cocaine base, along with a digital scale with white residue on it. Additionally, law enforcement found $1,549 in cash. Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice’s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys’ offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department’s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump’s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities. U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the ATF and BPD for their work in the investigation. Ms. Hayes also thanked Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathleen Godwin who is prosecuting this federal case. For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, visit justice.gov/usao-md . # # #


title: U.S. Attorney's Office Joins Communities Across Massachusetts for National Night Out

component: USAO - Massachusetts

body_text: BOSTON – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts participated in National Night Out events in communities across the Commonwealth. The annual campaign brings together law enforcement, community organizations and residents to strengthen relationships and promote safer neighborhoods. National Night Out is held each year on the first Tuesday in August and is celebrated in thousands of communities across the country through neighborhood gatherings, block parties, cookouts, youth activities, safety demonstrations and other events. “The work of keeping our communities safe extends far beyond the courtroom. It depends on strong partnerships between law enforcement and the people we serve,” said United States Attorney Leah B. Foley. “National Night Out is a meaningful opportunity to connect with residents, listen to their concerns and reinforce our shared commitment to safer, stronger communities throughout Massachusetts.” National Night Out is coordinated locally by law enforcement agencies and community volunteers and encourages meaningful engagement between residents and the public safety professionals who serve them. In the District of Massachusetts, the U.S. Attorney’s Office participated in National Night Out events in cities and towns across the state. Established in 1984 with support from the Bureau of Justice Assistance within the U.S. Department of Justice, National Night Out is administered by the National Association of Town Watch. For more information about National Night Out, visit www.natw.org .


title: Registered Sex Offender From Rhode Island Arrested for Possession of Child Pornography

body_text: BOSTON – A Rhode Island man has been arrested and charged in connection with possession of child sexual abuse material (CSAM). Frank DeCaro, 47, of Westerly, R.I., was charged with one count of possession of child pornography. DeCaro was arrested this morning and will appear in federal court in Boston at 1 p.m. today. According to the charging documents, DeCaro is a registered sex offender following a 2014 conviction for possession of CSAM in Rhode Island state court, for which he received a probationary sentence. In November 2025, DeCaro was stopped at Boston Logan Airport attempting to enter the country from an international trip to Italy. During a subsequent search, multiple images and videos depicting CSAM were allegedly discovered on DeCaro’s phone. The charge of possession of child pornography after a previous similar offense provides for a sentence of no less 10 years and up to 20 years in prison, at least five years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case. United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Jeff Grimming, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England; and Jennifer B. De La O, Director of Field Operations, U.S. Customs and Border Protection made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Rhode Island State Police and the Westerly (R.I.) Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric L. Hawkins of the Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting 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 the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc . The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: U.S. Attorney's Office joins law enforcement, community leaders, and residents for National Night Out events in Kansas

component: USAO - Kansas

body_text: TOPEKA, KAN. – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Kansas (USAO-KS) is again participating in National Night Out events alongside law enforcement partners, neighbors, and communities. National Night Out is an annual community-building campaign that promotes partnerships and camaraderie between law enforcement and the communities they serve to make our neighborhoods safer places to live. Millions of people take part in National Night Out across thousands of communities. The outreach events are held in August in most areas of the country. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office prioritizes participation in National Night Out because these event are opportunities for meaningful interaction with the public that help foster trust and strengthen relationships,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan A. Kriegshauser. “This year we will be in Derby and Topeka. In previous years, we’ve gone to Gardner, Wichita, Overland Park, and El Dorado where we enjoyed speaking one-on-one with some of our fellow Kansans.” On Tuesday, August 4, 2026, the USAO-KS staff took part in the Derby Police Department’s National Night Out event at High Park. The Outreach Team set up an information table and passed out brochures to visitors on topics like about how to spot and avoid financial scams, resources for victims of crime, and the dangers of fentanyl use. USAO-KS will be at the 2026 City of Topeka National Night Out Community Resource Expo on Saturday, August 8, 2026. National Night Out was established in 1984 with funding from the Bureau of Justice Assistance of the U.S. Department of Justice. The National Association of Town Watch, a nationwide non-profit organization, administers the program. Coordinated by local law enforcement and trained volunteers, National Night Out brings police and neighbors together under positive circumstances. Neighborhoods host block parties, safety demonstrations, youth events, and more. National Night Out sends a message of unity that says by working together, neighbors can keep their communities and each other safe. For more information, visit https://natw.org/ . ###


title: Man pleads guilty after sexual meetup with agent posing as 14-year-old girl

body_text: KANSAS CITY, KAN. – A Missouri man pleaded guilty to crossing state lines to have sex with someone he thought to be a 14-year-old girl. According to court documents, James D. Fishbaugh, 53, of Blue Springs, Missouri, pleaded guilty to one count of travel with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct. In August 2025, Fishbaugh used a social media account to communicate with an undercover agent with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) posing as a minor. During the online chat, the agent claimed to be 14 years old, to which Fishbaugh responded that he was 49. Fishbaugh shifted the conversation to be sexual in nature and told the agent he “would love to meet you sometime”. On August 22, 2025, Fishbaugh drove from his residence in Missouri to a designated meeting place in Kansas, stopping for condoms along the way. Agents arrested him upon arrival. Fishbaugh told officers that he believed the undercover agent was a real 14-year-old girl and that he traveled to the residence to have sex with the minor. Fishbaugh is scheduled to be sentenced on November 3, 2026. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Audrey McCormick is prosecuting the case. Project Safe Childhood This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/ps c. ###


title: Former Kansas first responder pleads guilty to child pornography distribution

body_text: KANSAS CITY, KAN. – A former Kansas emergency responder pleaded guilty to sending and receiving child sexual abuse material (CSAM) online. According to court documents, Dylan Jamescupp, 34, of Ottawa pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of child pornography. Between July 2021 and September 2022, Jamescupp uploaded and traded CSAM using social media platforms. Whenever a platform suspended or terminated his accounts, Jamescupp would create a new account to continue with his criminal activities. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) received multiple cybertips about Jamescupp which were forwarded to the U.S. Secret Service. In March 2024, federal agents executed a search warrant at Jamescupp’s home where agents seized electronic devices. A forensic analysis found CSAM including 2,306 photos and 369 videos. Jamescupp told investigators he’d viewed sexual exploitation images involving children as young as eight years old. His phone GPS information indicated that Jamescupp was sent CSAM images while at the Kansas City, Kansas Fire Department, where he worked as an emergency medical technician prior to the search of his home. Jamescupp is scheduled to be sentenced on November 3, 2026. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The U.S. Secret Service (USSS) is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Audrey McCormick is prosecuting the case. Project Safe Childhood This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc . ###


title: Kapolei Woman Sentenced to Two Years in Prison for  Aggravated Identity Theft in Connection with Unemployment Insurance and Pandemic Unemployment Relief Program Fraud

component: USAO - Hawaii

body_text: HONOLULU – United States Attorney Ken Sorenson announced that Phoebe Trinh, also known as Phuong Trinh Ngoc Vo, 33, of Kapolei, Hawaii, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Shanlyn A.S. Park to 24 months in prison followed by 6 months of supervised release for aggravated identity theft. Trinh was also ordered to forfeit $36,265 and pay $78,474 in restitution. Trinh pled guilty pursuant to a plea agreement in April 2026. In 2020, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act created the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) unemployment insurance program to provide emergency unemployment payments to certain workers whose livelihoods were impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic but who were ineligible for traditional state unemployment insurance benefits, such as business owners, self-employed workers, independent contractors, and those with a limited work history who were out of business or had significantly reduced their services as a direct result of the pandemic. To obtain either traditional unemployment insurance (UI) or PUA UI benefit payments, claimants could submit a claim online. If approved, the U.S. Treasury typically deposited payments every week into a claimant’s bank account. To continue to receive benefit payments, claimants were required to certify on a weekly basis under penalty of law that they remained unemployed or partially employed, and eligible to receive benefit payments. According to court documents, Trinh admitted that between May 19, 2020 and October 20, 2020, she submitted a false claim online for UI benefit payments for herself, and then repeatedly falsely certified under penalty of law that she was unemployed and not receiving income, despite knowing that her certifications were false, in order to receive benefit payments that she was not entitled to receive. Trinh then submitted a false claim for PUA UI benefit payments for another individual, who was an employee of her family’s restaurant in Kapolei, Hawaii. Trinh used that individual’s personal identifiable information, including his name and social security number, without that individual’s knowledge and consent, in order to obtain additional benefit payments to which Trinh was not entitled. On May 19, 2020, and on multiple other occasions, Trinh then certified that the individual remained eligible for PUA UI benefit payments in order to receive his benefit payments, without the individual’s knowledge and consent. Trinh then directed those benefit payments intended for the individual to be transferred to her own bank account. According to court documents, Trinh fraudulently obtained at least $36,265 in unemployment insurance and PUA UI benefits to which she was not entitled. “Motivated by greed, Trinh defrauded the government to obtain critical resources intended to provide a lifeline to unemployed Americans during the pandemic,” said U.S. Attorney Ken Sorenson. “The National Fraud Enforcement Division is committed to investigating and prosecuting those who steal or fraudulently misuse taxpayer dollars, and our Office and law enforcement partners will work tirelessly to bring those individuals to justice.” “Phoebe Trinh’s sentencing is a reminder that unemployment benefits were meant for workers in crisis—not criminals looking to exploit them. While Americans relied on these funds to survive, fraudsters drained them for personal gain,” said Anthony P. D’Esposito, Inspector General, U.S. Department of Labor. “Working with Vice President Vance’s White House Fraud Task Force and our state and local law enforcement partners, we will continue pursuing those who defraud American taxpayers. We will not tolerate anyone who undermines the public’s trust.” The Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Gregg Paris Yates prosecuted the case. On April 7, 2026, 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: Salvadoran national pleads guilty to illegally reentering the United States

component: USAO - Virginia, Eastern

body_text: RICHMOND, Va. – An illegal alien from El Salvador pled guilty today to illegally reentering the United States after multiple previous removals. According to court documents, on Oct. 6, 2015, Salvadoran national Luis Antonio Tejada-Santamaria was arrested for illegally entering the United States. Following his conviction, Tejada-Santamaria was deported on Jan. 13, 2016. On April 1, 2016, Tejada-Santamaria was arrested for illegally reentry, and on May 18, 2016, was again removed from the United States. On Nov. 2, 2024, Tejada-Santamaria was arrested in Chesterfield County for assault on law enforcement and obstruction, and he was convicted of the latter in the Chesterfield County court. Tejada-Santamaria is scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 24. He faces a maximum penalty of two years in prison and remains subject to the previous order of removal. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Theophani K. Stamos, First Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Eric Weindorf, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations Washington, D.C., made the announcement after Chief U.S. District Judge M. Hannah Lauck accepted the plea. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Patrick Joseph McGorman and Angela Mastandrea are prosecuting the case. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:25-cr-42.


title: Belarusian leader of international ransomware scheme known as “Ransom Cartel” sentenced to 16 years in prison

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A Belarusian national was sentenced today to 16 years in prison for conspiracy to commit offenses against the United States, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, and aggravated identity theft. According to court documents, Maksim Silnikau, 40, was the creator and administrator of the Ransom Cartel ransomware strain, created in 2021. Silnikau had been a member of Russian-speaking cybercrime forums since at least 2005 and was a member of the notorious cybercrime website Direct Connection from 2011 to 2016, when the site was shuttered after the arrest of its administrator. Beginning in May 2021, Silnikau developed a ransomware operation and began recruiting participants from cybercrime forums. On various occasions, Silnikau distributed information and tools to Ransom Cartel participants, including information about compromised computers, such as stolen credentials, and tools such as those designed to encrypt or “lock” compromised computers. Silnikau also maintained a hidden website where he and his co-conspirators could monitor and control ransomware attacks; communicate with each other; communicate with victims, including sending and negotiating payment demands; and manage distribution of funds between co-conspirators. From 2021 to 2023, Silnikau’s Ransom Cartel conspirators executed ransomware attacks on at least 18 companies around the world, including companies based in California, New York, Nebraska, and countries other than the United States. The hackers stole data and demanded monetary payments in exchange for the key to unlock the stolen data, or in exchange for a promise not to publish the victim’s data. Ransom Cartel’s growth was disrupted by the arrest of Silnikau in July 2023. Silnikau was extradited from Poland to face prosecution in the Eastern District of Virginia and the District of New Jersey. Theophani K. Stamos, First Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Acting Special Agent in Charge Andrew Forrest, US Secret Service Criminal Investigative Division; Chris Ormerod, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Kansas City Field Office; and Craig L. Tremaroli, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Albany Field Office, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Rossie D. Alston Jr. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided substantial assistance in the extradition of Silnikau and the collection of evidence. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey and the Computer Crime and Intellectual Property section also provided assistance. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan S. Keim and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Zoe Bedell prosecuted the case. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:23-cr-108.


title: Collin County man sentenced to over 20 years in federal prison for trafficking methamphetamine, firearms violation in the Eastern District of Texas

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: PLANO, Texas – An Anna man has been sentenced to over 20 years in federal prison for drug trafficking and firearms violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs. Pedro Rodriguez, 36, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and was sentenced to 248 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Sean D. Jordan on August 5, 2026. According to information presented in court, an investigation into methamphetamine trafficking in the area led to Rodriguez. It was determined that from at least September 2024, Rodriguez was conspiring with others to distribute methamphetamine in the Eastern District of Texas, and elsewhere. Rodriguez was also found to be in possession of a firearm during his drug trafficking activities. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. This case was investigated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and the Collin County Sheriff’s Office and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lesley D. Brooks. ###


title: Georgia Man Sentenced to 13½ Years in Prison for Philadelphia, Upper Darby Carjackings

body_text: PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that Jalaal Claitt, 20, of Atlanta, Georgia, was sentenced yesterday afternoon to 162 months in prison, five years of supervised release, and $7,400 in restitution by United States District Judge Juan R. Sánchez for committing two armed carjackings. The defendant was charged by superseding indictment in April of last year for his roles in a September 2024 carjacking in West Philadelphia and an October 2024 carjacking in Upper Darby, Pa. This February, Claitt entered a plea of guilty before United States Magistrate Judge Jose R. Arteaga to two counts of carjacking and one count of carrying, using, and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. As described in the superseding indictment and other public filings, on September 17, 2024, Victim #1 parked on the 300 block of 62nd Street in Philadelphia and reported being immediately approached by three males, later identified by investigators as Claitt and co-defendants Kristian Jackson, 20, and Legend Hall, 20, both of Philadelphia. One of the defendants asked Victim #1 to drive them somewhere. When Victim #1 refused, two of the males took out handguns and told Victim #1 to get out of the car. The three males then got into Victim #1’s black Chevy Malibu and drove off with Victim #1’s iPhone 14 and approximately $500 that was in the car. As further detailed in court filings, on October 1, 2024, Claitt, Hall and others placed an order for a pizza delivery at Slices and Moore in Upper Darby. When the delivery driver (Victim #2) attempted to make the delivery, the defendant and others pointed guns at him and took Victim #2’s wallet, phone, car keys, the proceeds of the pizza shop, and the rest of the money that Victim #2 had on him at the time. Claitt and the others then jumped into Victim #2’s vehicle and fled the area. Co-defendant Jackson pleaded guilty to the West Philadelphia carjacking and was sentenced in February to eight and half years in prison. Co-defendant Hall pleaded guilty to both the West Philadelphia and Upper Darby carjackings and was sentenced in April to 11½ years in prison. This case was investigated by the FBI Philadelphia Violent Crimes Task Force and the Philadelphia Police Department, with assistance from the Upper Darby Township Police Department, and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Robert E. Eckert and Samantha A. Arena.


title: Delco Man Pleads Guilty to Stalking by Mail, Witness Tampering

body_text: PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that Stephen M. Cilurso, 73, of Aldan, Pennsylvania, entered a plea of guilty today before United States District Judge Gail A. Weilheimer to one count of stalking by use of the mail and one count of witness tampering. The defendant was charged by information last month, following his arrest on a criminal complaint and warrant in March. With today’s plea, he has waived prosecution by indictment. As detailed in court filings and admitted to by the defendant, between about May 31, 2019, and March 21, 2026, in Delaware County and Philadelphia County, Cilurso mailed a number of letters containing threats and homophobic slurs to Victim 1. Upon being confronted by law enforcement on March 3, 2026, the defendant admitted that he sent such letters to Victim 1. Following that encounter with agents, the defendant sent Victim 1 four additional letters, in which he provided his true name and repeatedly stated that Victim 1 should discontinue any involvement in the criminal investigation and that the defendant’s life was in Victim 1’s hands. On March 17, 2026, the defendant was told by law enforcement agents not to contact Victim 1 again. Despite being expressly told to discontinue contacting Victim 1, the defendant then sent Victim 1 two more letters. In one, the defendant wrote, “I will not go back to jail.” He further threatened to kill himself, adding “drop the charges against me” and “let me live.” In the second letter, the defendant stated, “I do not ever want to go back to prison ... don’t let the FBI put me back there.” The defendant is scheduled to be sentenced on November 17 and faces a maximum possible term of eight years in prison. This case was investigated by the FBI, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and Philadelphia Police Department and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michelle Morgan.


title: Illegal Alien Pleads Guilty To Unlawful Reentry

component: USAO - Oklahoma, Eastern

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Rodanim Castellanos-Julian, a/k/a Rodanim Castellanos, age 27, a Mexican national unlawfully present in Haskell County, Oklahoma, pleaded guilty to one count of Unlawful Reentry of Removed Alien, punishable by a term of imprisonment of not more than two years, and a fine of not more than $250,000.00. The charge arose from an investigation by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement Division. The Indictment alleged that on July 3, 2026, Castellanos-Julian, an alien, was found in the United States without obtaining the express consent of the Secretary of Homeland Security to reapply for admission to the United States after having been previously removed on December 5, 2024. This case is part of Operation Take Back America , a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. The Honorable Gerald L. Jackson, Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report. A U.S. District Court Judge will determine the sentence to be imposed after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Castellanos-Julian will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristin Knutson represented the United States.


title: Individual Arrested for Arson of Historic Brooklyn Church

component: USAO - New York, Eastern

body_text: Today, a criminal complaint was unsealed in federal court in Brooklyn charging John Jones with intentionally setting fire to the South Bushwick Reformed Church (the Church) located at 855 Bushwick Avenue, Brooklyn, New York, on June 19, 2026. Jones was arrested earlier today in Manhattan and will make his initial appearance at a later date in the Eastern District of New York. Joseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York; Bryan DiGirolamo, Special Agent in Charge, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, New York Division (ATF); Jessica S. Tisch, Commissioner, New York City Police Department (NYPD); and Lillian Bonsignore, Commissioner, New York City Fire Department (FDNY), announced the arrest. “As alleged, Jones intentionally set fire to a historic and beloved church, significantly damaging the structure,” stated United States Attorney Nocella. “I commend the Special Agents and the NYPD Detectives who have worked tirelessly to identify and apprehend the perpetrator of this senseless act that has deeply wounded the Church’s congregation and the entire Bushwick community. Our Office will vigorously prosecute Jones to the full extent of the law. Arson is a terrible crime that strikes at the heart of public safety and endangers first responders.” “This arrest reflects the strength of our law enforcement partnerships. Through the coordinated efforts of the ATF Arson & Explosives Task Force, NYPD, FDNY, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office EDNY, we acted swiftly to hold the individual allegedly responsible accountable for setting fire to a historic church that has been part of New York City’s fabric since the 1850s,” stated ATF Special Agent in Charge DiGirolamo. “This defendant placed countless Brooklyn residents at risk when he recklessly set fire to the South Bushwick Reformed Church in broad daylight,” stated NYPD Commissioner Tisch. “New Yorkers deserve to practice their faith freely and without fear, and the destruction of this sacred New York City landmark will be met with swift justice. I thank the NYPD investigators and our law enforcement partners for their work to hold this individual accountable.” “The intentional burning of a house of worship is an attack on a historic building and on the sense of safety and community it represents,” stated FDNY Commissioner Bonsignore. “This fire placed lives at risk, including the first responders who responded to protect the church and the surrounding neighborhood. We are grateful for the outstanding work of our partners at the ATF, NYPD, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office that led to this arrest. We will continue to work alongside our law enforcement partners to hold those responsible for these dangerous crimes accountable.” The Church was constructed in the 1850s and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982. It was also designated as a New York City Landmark in 1968. As set forth in the complaint, between approximately 12:12 p.m. and 12:47 p.m. on June 19, 2026, Jones was captured on surveillance video attempting unsuccessfully to enter the Church. At approximately 12:30 p.m., Jones was observed on surveillance video inside a convenience store that was a short walking distance from the Church. He asked the cashier “for a lighter” and then paid for the lighter. Jones then returned to the Church, walking on and around the Church property and within the Church gates. A photo taken by a witness at about 1:27 p.m. shows smoke and low burning on an area of the Bushwick Avenue side of the Church. Jones appears to have approached areas of the Church exterior near to the location where low burning ultimately appears on the front of the Church. The charge in the complaint is an allegation, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted, Jones faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years’ imprisonment, and a maximum sentence of 20 years’ imprisonment. The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s General Crimes Section. Assistant United States Attorney William Bristow is in charge of the prosecution. The Defendant : JOHN JONES Age: 24 Brooklyn, New York E.D.N.Y. Docket No.26-MJ-0143 john_jones_complaint.pdf


title: St. Louis Bus Driver Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison for Sex with 12-Year-Old Michigan Girl

body_text: ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge Maria A. Lanahan on Wednesday sentenced a St. Louis bus driver to 15 years in prison for engaging in sex acts with a 12-year-old Michigan girl. After meeting the victim via social media in 2023, Harold Paul White, now 56, drove to Michigan to pick her up and bring her back to St. Louis. White engaged in illegal sex acts with the minor at his apartment in St. Louis and recorded those acts with a phone. When the victim realized that she had been reported missing, White bought her a bus ticket home. “This is the second child predator we've sent to federal prison in as many days, underscoring the persistent threat these offenders pose to our communities,” said Special Agent in Charge Chris Crocker of the FBI St. Louis Division. “Child exploitation is not an isolated problem; it is a daily reality that the FBI and our law enforcement partners confront across the country. Parents need to understand that a child's bedroom is no longer a barrier between them and those who would do them harm. Online platforms give predators constant access to potential victims, making vigilance, communication, and reporting more important than ever.” White pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in St. Louis in May to one count of interstate travel with the intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct. The FBI and local police investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Dianna Edwards prosecuted the case.


title: Former St. Louis Aldermanic Candidate Admits Committing Social Security Fraud

component: National Fraud Enforcement Division

body_text: ST. LOUIS – A businessman and former St. Louis aldermanic candidate on Wednesday admitted committing Social Security disability fraud by falsely claiming to be unable to work for years. Justin Idleburg, 47, of St. Louis, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in St. Louis to one count of theft of government money. He admitted that from January 2019 to May 2024, he failed to report his business activities and income from grants to the Social Security Administration (SSA) and exaggerated his symptoms to remain medically eligible for benefits. He fraudulently received a total of $51,388.50. Idleburg initially began receiving Social Security disability benefits in January 2007. His disability determination was reviewed in 2018 and 2024, when he reported mental health symptoms and difficulty getting along with others. Despite those claims, beginning as early as 2017, Idleburg was involved in multiple community organizations, organized and attended public events, ran for the St. Louis Board of Alderman in 2019 and started two businesses, he admitted in his plea agreement. In March 2019, he formed Idleburg Consultants, LLC and listed himself as the principal. In 2020 his social media showed him volunteering at the polls for an election event. In 2022 Idleburg posted a photo of a chancellor’s certificate he received from the University of Missouri St. Louis in economic development. In August of 2023, Idleburg registered Cabanne District Community Development Corporation and listed himself as president. He applied for and received $67,000 in grants for his business and deposited the grants in bank accounts he failed to disclose to the SSA. In 2023 he also participated in multiple media interviews regarding his businesses and spoke to lawmakers in Jefferson City regarding cultural bias in the energy sector. Idleburg is scheduled to be sentenced on November 5. The charge carries a potential penalty of up to 10 years in prison. The Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General’s Cooperative Disability Investigations program investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jolene Taaffe 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: East St. Louis Felon Admits Shooting Homeless Man

component: USAO - Missouri, Eastern

body_text: ST. LOUIS – A convicted felon from East St. Louis on Tuesday admitted shooting a homeless man in 2024. Travion X. Cutler, 34, pleaded guilty to one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm. He admitted that on Oct. 21, 2024, he was walking around a tent in downtown St. Louis when the man who shared the tent returned from showering at a friend’s house. The victim’s tentmate was inside the tent. Cutler fired a single shot, striking the victim in the abdomen. Police quickly located Cutler, who turned and ran, dropping a .40 caliber handgun after he fell into some bushes. He was then arrested. Cutler is a felon and is thus barred from possessing firearms. Cutler is scheduled to be sentenced on November 4. The charge carries a potential penalty of up to 15 years in prison. The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Phillip Voss is prosecuting the case. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the Department of Justice’s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys’ offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department’s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump’s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.


title: Jury Convicts Orleans Parish Man of Maintaining Residence for Fentanyl Distribution and Possessing Machinegun to Further Drug Trafficking Conspiracy

body_text: NEW ORLEANS, LA – On August 4, 2026, WILBERT SMITH , (“SMITH”) , age 46, of New Orleans, was found guilty on all seven counts of a superseding indictment pending against him, following a two-day jury trial before U.S. District Judge Carl J. Barbier, announced U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle. Sentencing is scheduled for November 19, 2026. SMITH was convicted in Count 1 of conspiring with others to distribute, or possess with intent to distribute, controlled substances, and in Count 2 of possessing with intent to distribute over 400 grams of fentanyl, and a quantity of cocaine and heroin, all in violation of Title 21, U.S.C. §841(a)(1), (b)(1)(A), (b)(1)(C), and 846. At sentencing, for both Counts 1 and 2, he faces a mandatory minimum of ten years and up to life imprisonment, up to a $10,000,000 fine, and at least five years of supervised release. SMITH was convicted in Count 4 of possessing firearms in furtherance of the drug trafficking conspiracy charged in Count 1, in violation of Title 18, U.S.C. § 924(c)(1)(A). At sentencing, he faces a mandatory minimum of five years and up to life imprisonment, which must run consecutive to any other sentence imposed, up to a $250,000 fine, and up to five years of supervised release. SMITH was convicted in Count 6 of being a felon in possession of firearms, in violation of Title 18, U.S.C. § 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(8). At sentencing, he faces up to fifteen years of imprisonment, up to a $250,000 fine, and up to three years of supervised release. SMITH was convicted in Count 8 of possessing a machinegun, in violation of Title 18, U.S.C. § 922(o) and 924(a)(2). At sentencing, he faces up to ten (10) years of imprisonment, up to a $250,000 fine, and at least three (3) years of supervised release. SMITH was convicted in Count 9 of possession of a machinegun in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 924(c)(1)(A)(i) and 924(c) (l)(B)(ii). He faces a mandatory minimum of thirty (30) years imprisonment, which must be run consecutive to any other sentence imposed, up to a $250,000 fine, and up to five (5) years of supervised release. SMITH was convicted in Count 10 of Maintaining a drug involved premises, in violation of Title 21 U.S.C. § 856. At sentencing, he faces up to twenty years imprisonment, up to a $250,000 fine, and up to three years of supervised release. As to each count of conviction, SMITH also faces payment of a $100 mandatory special assessment fee. Evidence presented at trial showed that beginning at a time unknown, but continuing until at least May 8, 2024, SMITH, and other individuals, maintained three residences in the Algiers neighborhood of New Orleans for the purpose of packaging and distributing narcotics, including fentanyl, cocaine, and heroin. Federal search warrants executed on these residences on May 8, 2024, led to the seizure of multiple firearms, including a machinegun, over $41,000 is U.S. currency, drug trafficking paraphernalia such as blenders, digital scales, a money counter, and plastic baggies, along with approximately 416 grams of a mixture of fentanyl and heroin and over 100 grams of cocaine. SMITH also possessed multiple firearms, including the machinegun, to protect this drug-trafficking operation and his drug proceeds. United States Attorney Courcelle praised the work of the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Louisiana State Police, and the New Orleans Police Department. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant United States Attorneys Stuart Theriot of the Violent Crimes Unit and Briana Williams of the Narcotics Unit. Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice’s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys’ offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department’s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump’s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities. ***


title: Convicted Drug Trafficker Sentenced for Violating Federal Controlled Substances Act

body_text: NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – YILEI ZHOU , age 36, a Chinese national, was sentenced today by United States District Judge Greg G. Guidry to 24 months’ imprisonment, 4 years of supervised release, and a $100.00 mandatory special assessment fee, after previously pleading guilty to conspiracy to distribute, and possess with intent to distribute, a mixture and substance containing one hundred (100) kilograms or more of a detectable amount of marijuana, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(B), and 846. According to court documents, on April 14, 2025, DEA Special Agents observed an individual identified as ZHOU pick up Hanjie Wu, a known marijuana distributor, from an airport in Houston, Texas and drive him to a residence in Katy, Texas, where they picked up Zihang Zeng and drove to Denham Springs, Louisiana. The following day, two other individuals, Wei Bin Chen and Like Chen, left Denham Springs, traveled to a nearby storage facility and retrieved multiple large trash bags from a storage unit. They then drove to another storage facility in Slidell, Louisiana. ZHOU and Wu then drove to same facility in Slidell where they all met with an individual identified as Aaron Steele. Wei Bin and Like Chen then loaded the large trash bags into Steele’s vehicle and all parties left the storage facility. Forrest County Sheriff’s deputies conducted a traffic stop of Chen’s vehicle on Interstate 59 headed towards Hattiesburg, Mississippi. A consensual search of the vehicle resulted in the seizure of approximately 43.5 kilograms of marijuana. Additionally, Mississippi Police Department officers conducted a traffic stop of Steele’s vehicle on Interstate 59 in Picayune, Mississippi. A consensual search of his vehicle resulted in the seizure of approximately 22.7 kilograms of marijuana. Based on the seizures that occurred in Slidell and Mississippi, Livingston Parish officers obtained search warrants for the residence and storage facility in Denham Springs. When the officers arrived at the residence, Zeng ran from the residence and was arrested. Inside the residence, officers located $1,552.00 in currency, hundreds of rubber bands, a vacuum sealer and a money counter. From the storage unit, officers seized 38.5 kilograms of marijuana. The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office, Livingston Parish Sheriff’s Office, Forrest County Mississippi Sheriff’s Office, and the Picayune, Mississippi Police Department. The prosecution was handled by Assistant United States Attorneys André Jones and Nolan D. Paige of the Narcotics Unit. This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF New Orleans comprises agents and officers from the Department of Homeland Security, Federal Bureau of Investigations, Drug Enforcement Administration and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Louisiana. * * *


title: Dover Man Indicted as Armed Career Criminal for Federal Gun and Drug Offenses

body_text: WILMINGTON, Del. – A federal grand jury has returned an indictment charging a Dover man with unlawfully possessing fentanyl, cocaine, and a handgun. According to the indictment, Romone Allen, 43, stored a loaded 9mm pistol and distribution quantities of fentanyl and cocaine inside an open electronic safe in a Dover hotel room he was renting, along with cash and a digital scale. The indictment alleges that Allen committed these offenses after previously being convicted of three serious drug offenses dating back to 2001. Allen is charged with one count of possession of a firearm by a prohibited person, one count of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine, and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime. If convicted, Allen faces a mandatory minimum of 20 years in prison and a maximum possible sentence of life. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. U.S. Attorney Benjamin L. Wallace, FBI Baltimore Special Agent in Charge Jimmy Paul, and Dover Police Department Chief Thomas Johnson, Jr., and made the announcement. The FBI’s Delaware Violent Crime and Safe Streets Task Force and the Dover Police Department investigated the case. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Delaware. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the District of Delaware or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:26-cr-109-RGA. The charges contained in the indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.


title: Repeat Narcotics Dealer Found Guilty by Federal Jury in Distributing PCP at a Southwest D.C. Rec Center

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

body_text: WASHINGTON – Jermaine Fairnot, 46, a three-time convicted felon residing in the District of Columbia, was found guilty in U.S. District Court today of his fourth felony in connection with intending to deal narcotics out of his car in the parking lot of a recreation center in Southwest Washington, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. “Jermaine Fairnot is a repeat offender who chose to possess PCP while armed with a loaded gun just feet from a children's playground,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “Today a federal jury found him guilty on all counts, and now he's facing a mandatory minimum of 25 years in federal prison, which is exactly where career criminals like Fairnot belong.” Following a four-day trial, the federal jury deliberated for approximately six hours and found Fairnot guilty of two counts of unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon, two counts of unlawful possession with intent to distribute PCP, and unlawful possession of PCP with intent to distribute within 1,000 feet of a playground. Chief Judge James E. Boasberg scheduled sentencing for Nov. 24, 2026. According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Metropolitan Police Department officers on Oct. 14, 2022, were on patrol at the King Greenleaf Recreation Center in Southwest Washington when they encountered a group of men standing around a Toyota Camry registered to Fairnot. Upon arrival of MPD, the men dispersed. Officers got out of their vehicle and shone their flashlights into the Camry, illuminating the barrel of a handgun protruding from under the driver’s seat. Police recovered a loaded Smith and Wesson semiautomatic pistol, roughly four ounces of PCP, and 56 empty vials. A few weeks later, on Nov. 9, 2022, law enforcement executed a warrant for Fairnot’s arrest while he was meeting with his probation officer at the courthouse. Officers seized Fairnot’s car keys and called in a canine unit to conduct a sweep of his Camry in a nearby parking lot. The dogs indicated the presence of firearms or ammunition and officers uncovered 4.85 grams of cocaine base, three vials filled with approximately 30 grams of PCP, empty glass vials, a scale, and a loaded Glock semiautomatic pistol. Officers also recovered mail, receipts, and a vehicle registration card belonging to Fairnot. Fairnot subsequently was indicted on two counts of possessing a firearm as a felon, one count of possession with intent to distribute (PWID) PCP, one count of PWID PCP within 1,000 feet of a playground, one count of PWID cocaine, and two counts of possession of a firearm during a drug-trafficking offense. Fairnot has three prior narcotics convictions for which he was sentenced to terms of more than a year and was therefore prohibited from possessing a firearm. This case was investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives – Washington Field Office, with valuable assistance from the FBI Washington Field Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Benjamin Helfand and Joshua Satter. 23cr24 Follow us on X , Instagram , and YouTube Or at https://www.justice.gov/usao-dc


title: Leader of 2024 Armed Robbery, Carjacking Spree Sentenced to 180 Months

body_text: WASHINGTON – Kanard Bishop, 28, of the District of Columbia, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 180 months in prison in connection with a violent spree of armed robberies and carjackings that spanned six weeks and 13 incidents across the District of Columbia and Maryland, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. “Violent conduct and a blatant disregard for human life have no place in the District,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. "This sentence sends an unmistakable message: those who bring violence to our communities will be found, prosecuted, and held accountable. The people who live, work, and visit our Nation’s Capital deserve safety and security, and we will continue working every day to deliver it.” Bishop pleaded guilty on March 26, 2026, before Judge Rudolph Contreras to conspiracy to interfere with interstate commerce by robbery and to using and brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence. In addition to the 180-month prison sentence, Judge Contreras ordered Bishop to serve five years of supervised release. Federal prosecutors had requested a 252-month prison term. Co-defendants Edward Leroy Brown, 26, aka “Shiesty,” and Khalil Boyd, 20, pleaded guilty to the same charges on March 26 and were sentenced today to 150 months and 144 months, respectively. According to court papers, beginning on Feb. 14, 2024, and continuing through March 28, 2024, Bishop and his co-conspirators agreed to rob retail stores and carjack victims at gunpoint across the District and Maryland, carrying out or attempting at least 13 separate robberies and carjackings. The conspiracy began on Feb. 14, 2024, when Bishop and Brown entered a convenience store in Capitol Heights, Maryland, pointed firearms at an employee, and demanded cash. Unable to open the register, they fled to a nearby McDonald’s, where they opened the drive-through window from the outside and pointed a firearm at an employee before fleeing again. On March 17, 2024, Bishop and a co-conspirator carjacked two victims at gunpoint in the 4300 block of Southern Avenue SE, stealing a 2008 Mercedes-Benz along with cell phones, a wallet, identification, a credit card, and $2,000 in cash. The pace of the conspiracy accelerated on March 20, 2024. In the early morning hours, Bishop and Boyd carjacked a victim near 35th Street NE, stealing his 2018 Dodge Durango. Using the stolen vehicle, the group attempted a second McDonald’s drive-through robbery, robbed a Denny’s restaurant on Benning Road NE, where Bishop ripped the cash register off the counter, attempted a robbery at a second McDonald’s in Landover, Maryland, robbed a 7-Eleven in Landover, where Bishop jumped the counter to grab the register, and robbed a convenience store in District Heights, forcing an employee inside at gunpoint and stealing cash and tobacco products. On March 27, 2024, Bishop and Boyd carjacked another motorist at a gas station in District Heights, knocking him to the ground during a struggle before fleeing in his 2022 Dodge Challenger. Later that day, the pair approached two FedEx employees working in a delivery truck in Southeast Washington, pointed firearms at both workers, and stole their wallets, cellphones, and four packages. The conspiracy ended on March 28, 2024, at a GameStop in District Heights. Bishop and Brown entered the store, struck an employee, and demanded that workers open the cash registers and safe. When police arrived, both men fled on foot with firearms. A detective shot Brown in the lower body as he fled, and Bishop discarded his loaded firearm before he was apprehended. Boyd, who had waited outside in the stolen Challenger, fled the scene, carjacked another driver at gunpoint, and crashed into two police cruisers before he was taken into custody. Joining U.S. Attorney Pirro in the announcement was FBI Assistant Director in Charge Darren B. Cox of the Washington Field Office. The case was investigated by the FBI Washington Field Office Violent Crime Task Force and the Metropolitan Police Department’s Carjacking Task Force, with valuable assistance from the Prince George’s County Police Department. The matter was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua Satter. Defendant later identified as Bishop enters a convenience store in Capitol Heights with a firearm during a Feb. 14, 2024, attempted armed robbery. Suspect points a firearm with a laser sight at a restaurant employee during the March 20, 2024 armed robbery of a Denny’s. 24cr179


title: Homeland Security Task Force: Dual Dominican and French National Admits Role in Firearms Trafficking Scheme

component: Criminal - Office of International Affairs

body_text: DIMITRI BEIX, 28, a Dominican and French citizen and resident of Dominica, pleaded guilty yesterday in Hartford federal court to an offense related to his role in the illegal trafficking and export of firearms and firearm components from the United States to Dominica. U.S. Attorney David X. Sullivan; Assistant Attorney General John A. Eisenberg of the Justice Department’s National Security Division; Special Agent in Charge James Guanci of the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Office of Export Enforcement, Boston; Acting Special Agent in Charge Jeff Grimming of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), New England; Acting Inspector in Charge J. Buck Buckley of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Boston Division; Special Agent in Charge Thomas A. Greco, ATF Boston Field Division; and Special Agent in Charge Thomas Demeo of IRS Criminal Investigation in New England, made the announcement. According to court documents and statements made in court, from at least January 2021 through September 2024, Beix led a scheme to smuggle firearms, firearm components, and ammunition from the U.S. to Dominica without first having obtained the required licenses or authorization from the U.S. Department of Commerce, in violation of the Export Control Reform Act. Beix used a network of suppliers, buyers, and shippers in Connecticut and elsewhere in the U.S. to facilitate his illicit procurement of firearms. Beix provided to his U.S. suppliers a list of firearm parts to purchase on his behalf via eBay and other retailers. Beix, using his own eBay accounts, also purchased more than 100 firearm parts himself and had the items shipped to individuals in the United States. Firearms and parts were then shipped to Beix in Dominica. In February 2023, Dominica authorities intercepted three parcels shipped from the U.S. to Beix in Dominica. The parcels contained six handguns, Glock slides, trigger assemblies, sight assemblies, rifle magazines, pistol magazines, AM15 rifle parts, a suppressor kit, ammunition, and other firearm components. Beix pleaded guilty to conspiracy to violate the Export Control Reform Act, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years. Beix has been detained since November 27, 2024, when he was arrested in Sint Maarten at the request of the United States. He was extradited to the United States in February 2026. This investigation is being conducted by the U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry and Security; Homeland Security Investigations (HSI); the U.S. Postal Inspection Service; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF); and the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division. HSI Caribbean, the Dominica Customs Excise Division, and the Commonwealth of Dominica Police Force have assisted the investigation. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Konstantin Lantsman and Sean P. Mahard, and Trial Attorney Yifei Zheng of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs and Sint Maarten authorities provided significant assistance in securing the defendant’s arrest and extradition to the United States. This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement toward identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF New Haven comprises agents and officers from the FBI, DEA, HSI, ATF, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, U.S. Department of Labor, and Connecticut State Police, with prosecutions led by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Connecticut.


title: Bridgeport Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Drug and Firearm Offenses

component: USAO - Connecticut

body_text: David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that MOETIES BROWN, 32, of Bridgeport, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Vernon D. Oliver in Hartford to 120 months of imprisonment and four years of supervised release for narcotics distribution and firearm possession offenses. According to court documents and statements made in court, in 2024, the FBI’s Bridgeport Safe Streets Task Force and Bridgeport Police Department learned that Brown was selling narcotics in the vicinity of his residence on Maple Street in Bridgeport. On November 20, 2024, investigators observed Brown and others engaging in suspected drug sales. Brown was arrested on state charges after a search of his person revealed a distribution quantity of marijuana, and a search of his vehicle and residence revealed more than 100 grams of fentanyl, two handguns, and ammunition. Brown’s criminal history includes nine felony convictions, including convictions for committing five gunpoint robberies of delivery workers and cashiers. Brown has been detained since his federal arrest on May 9, 2025. On May 19, 2026, he pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl, and unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition by a felon. This investigation was conducted by the FBI Bridgeport Safe Streets Task Force, the Bridgeport Police Department, and the Stratford Police Department. The Task Force is composed of personnel from the FBI, Connecticut State Police, and the Bridgeport, Fairfield, Norwalk, Trumbull, and Westport Police Departments. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mary G. Vitale and Daniel George. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.


title: Bridgeport Man Guilty of Multiple Child Exploitation Offenses

body_text: David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that a federal jury in Hartford has found ONAI KEDAR WILBERT WRIGHT, 27, of Bridgeport, guilty of child exploitation offenses. According to the evidence introduced during the trial, on March 14, 2025, an Online Covert Employee (OCE) with the FBI’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force in Cleveland, Ohio, monitored a live video stream on the internet application “Fambase” and observed Wright engaging in sexually explicit activity with a 15-year-old female (“minor victim”). Analysis of mobile communications and geo-location data, and information from AirBnB, led investigators to a residence located in Norwich, Connecticut, where they took Wright into custody. The minor victim and two adult females were also present in the residence. An investigation revealed that Wright met the minor victim when she was 14, and that they sometimes recorded themselves engaging in sexual activity and shared the recordings with each other. Wright also created an OnlyFans account, uploaded sexually explicit videos of the minor victim to the account, and pressured the minor victim to create content for the account. In early March 2025, Wright and the minor victim traveled to Ohio with the intent on creating more sexually explicit online conduct. On March 6, 2025, police in Vermilion, Ohio, acting on a tip, conducted a welfare check on the minor victim. Vermilion Police subsequently contacted the FBI. Today, the jury found Wright guilty of one count of transportation of a minor with intent to engage in prostitution or criminal sexual activity, one count of production of child pornography, two counts of receipt of child pornography, and one count of transportation of child pornography. At sentencing, which is not scheduled, Wright faces a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 15 years and a maximum term of imprisonment of life. Wright been detained since his arrest on related state charges on March 14, 2025. This investigation has been conducted by the FBI in New Haven and Cleveland, with the assistance of the Norwich Police Department, Bridgeport Police Department, Cromwell Police Department, Ansonia Police Department, the New London State’s Attorney’s Office, the Vermilion (Ohio) Police Department, and the Norwalk (Ohio) Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Angel M. Krull and Katherine E. Boyles. This prosecution is part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Project Safe Childhood Initiative, which is aimed at protecting children from sexual abuse and exploitation. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc . To report cases of child exploitation, please visit www.cybertipline.com .


title: Bridgeport Man Charged with Dumping Used Oil at Abandoned Property in Hartford

body_text: David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that a federal grand jury in Bridgeport has returned an indictment charging HARRY BATCHELOR, JR., 29, of Bridgeport, with illegal transport and disposal of used oil. The indictment alleges that on or about May 12, 2025, Batchelor and others violated federal and state environmental laws by transporting to, and disposing of, 11 55-gallon drums containing used oil, among other substances, at an abandoned property at 203-205 Homestead Avenue in Hartford. The location was not an approved recycling or disposal facility for used oil. The drums leaked used oil onto the neighboring property of a non-profit community organization at 255 Homestead Avenue, which necessitated an environmental cleanup by the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. The indictment was returned on July 22, 2026. Batchelor, who is currently detained in federal custody for alleged violations of his supervised release from a prior federal conviction, appeared today in Hartford federal court and entered a plea of not guilty to the charge. If convicted of the offense, Batchelor faces a maximum term of imprisonment of two years. U.S. Attorney Sullivan stressed that an indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. This matter is being investigated by the Environmental Protection Agency – Criminal Investigation Division and the Department of Transportation – Office of Inspector General, with assistance provided by the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Hal Chen.


title: Former Denver Man Sentenced To 42 Months For Complex Fraud Scheme

component: USAO - Colorado

body_text: DENVER –The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces that Heath Posey, 39, formerly of Denver, was sentenced to 42 months in federal prison, more than $6.2 million in restitution to victims and the IRS, a $10,000 fine, and three years of supervised release for his role in operating a multi-million-dollar fraudulent investment scheme. According to court documents and statements made in court, from approximately December 2022 through May 2024, Posey was the Chief Financial Officer of the ROI Cash Flow Fund, a fraudulent investment scheme. The ROI Cash Flow Fund was founded in June 2022 by Timothy McPhee. In late December 2022, McPhee hired Posey to serve as the fund’s Chief Financial Officer. In December 2025, McPhee was sentenced to 151 months in prison and ordered to pay more than $59 million in restitution to the IRS and victims of the investment fraud scheme. The ROI Cash Flow Fund was advertised to prospective investors as an opportunity to earn a 3% monthly return on a principal investment. Investors were told that the ROI Cash Flow Fund generated the 3% monthly returns by lending investor funds to a borrower who engaged in foreign exchange currency (forex) trading to generate a profit. As the fund’s CFO, Posey tracked the money moving in and out of the ROI Cash Flow Fund bank accounts, circulated fund materials, and initiated monthly payments to investors. In February 2023, unbeknownst to investors, the ROI Cash Flow Fund stopped sending investor funds to the borrower because the borrower was not paying returns as expected. To keep the fund running, McPhee and Posey started using investor funds to make 3% monthly payouts to certain investors. They continued to solicit investments into the fund. Although Posey knew that as of March 2023 the ROI Cash Flow Fund was not operating as advertised, he nevertheless helped McPhee conceal and carry out this fraud scheme until around May 2024. During this time, Posey repeatedly made false statements to investors, including that investors’ funds would be sent to a borrower who engaged in forex trading. Posey also helped recruit investors into the ROI Cash Flow Fund despite knowing that the fund was running out of money. From January 2023 until its collapse in February 2024, the ROI Cash Flow Fund generated a total of about $8 million in investments. McPhee and Posey used more than $5 million in investor funds to make 3% monthly payouts to certain investors, and Posey helped McPhee siphon off more than $2.2 million in investor funds for McPhee’s own financial gain. Both men also used investor funds to pay Posey’s salary and fund-related expenses, though investors were told their money would not be used to pay salaries, fees, or fund expenses. In total, the ROI Cash Flow Fund scheme caused a loss to investors of approximately $6 million. “It’s good news for our community that these swindlers are no longer able to hurt trusting clients with their schemes,” said United States Attorney for the District of Colorado Peter McNeilly. “The Department of Justice is committed to holding fraudsters who abuse the trust of others accountable.” “This defendant played a substantial role in orchestrating an elaborate Ponzi scheme that cost investors millions of dollars,” said FBI Denver Special Agent in Charge Amanda Koldjeski. “Pursuing his own greedy ends, the defendant lied repeatedly to investors and led to numerous individuals losing their life savings, retirement funds, and peace of mind. The FBI aggressively pursues fraudsters who try to benefit themselves by stealing from others.” “This defendant will spend years in prison for participating in a conspiracy that defrauded investors out of their hard-earned savings,” said Todd Wacaser, Special Agent in Charge, IRS Criminal Investigation's Denver Field Office. “Criminals who prey on hardworking people for their own financial gain should expect to be held accountable. IRS Criminal Investigation will continue to protect taxpayers and investors, safeguard the integrity of our financial system, and work with our law enforcement partners to bring those responsible to justice.” United States District Judge Charlotte N. Sweeney presided over the sentencing. The FBI Denver Field Office and the IRS Criminal Investigation Denver Field Office investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Amanda R. Scott for the District of Colorado and former Trial Attorney Lauren K. Pope of the Criminal Division’s Tax Section handled the prosecution. Case Number: 24-CR-352-CNS-2


title: Federal Corrections Officer and Wife Plead Guilty to Smuggling Contraband, Including Drugs, to Lompoc Inmate

component: USAO - California, Central

body_text: LOS ANGELES – A correctional officer at a federal prison in Santa Barbara County and his wife pleaded guilty today to smuggling contraband – including a drug used to treat opioid addiction – to a prison inmate in exchange for a total of $6,650 over several months. Paul Betancourt, 38, and Sylvia Betancourt, 49, of Lompoc, each pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to provide contraband to a federal inmate. According to their plea agreements, Paul Betancourt was employed by the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) as a correctional officer at Federal Correction Complex, Lompoc. From May 2023 to September 2023, Paul Betancourt agreed to provide contraband to an FCC Lompoc inmate. Sylvia Betancourt received payment and contraband from the inmate through the inmate’s intermediaries, which she then delivered to her husband. The defendants admitted that on at least 13 occasions, they met with, or received payment from, a Lompoc inmate or one of the inmate’s intermediaries for the delivery of contraband, including controlled substances such as suboxone. The payments ranged from $100 to as much as $1,500, according to court documents. In total, the inmate paid the defendants $6,650 to provide contraband to him at FCC Lompoc. The BOP has indefinitely suspended Paul Betancourt. United States District Judge Anne Hwang scheduled sentencing hearings for January 27, 2027, at which time the defendants will each face a statutory maximum sentence of five years in federal prison. The United States of Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General investigated this matter. Assistant United States Attorneys Christopher C. Kendall and Patrick Castañeda of the Transnational Organized Crime Section are prosecuting this case.


title: San Francisco Woman Convicted of Selling Counterfeit Native American Jewelry

component: USAO - Arizona

body_text: PHOENIX, Ariz. – A woman convicted of selling counterfeit Native American jewelry was ordered to pay a $10,000 fine yesterday in federal court. Molly Breivis, 57, of San Francisco, California, was sentenced by U.S. Magistrate Judge Alison Bachus to time served in addition to the fine. Breivis pleaded guilty on the same day to Misrepresentation of Indian Produced Goods of Less Than $1,000. Pursuant to her plea agreement, Breivis agreed to issue a public letter of apology to the Native America community that will be published on the Indian Arts and Crafts Board (IACB) website. Breivis fraudulently sold Native American jewelry online between approximately 2020 and 2024 on her eBay store. She claimed the jewelry was produced by Apache, Laguna, Navajo, or Zuni artists. Breivis, however, imported the jewelry from Asia and it was not produced by Native American artists. Breivis received two warning letters from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, through the IACB, warning her that selling counterfeit Native American jewelry violated the Indian Arts and Crafts Act but she ignored those warnings. In total, Breivis admitted to selling over $92,000 in counterfeit jewelry. In her letter of apology that will be published on the IACB website, Breivis wrote, “I recognize that my conduct harmed customers and affected Native American artists, artisans, and businesses that depend on the sale of authentic work. I understand that it also undermined confidence in the market for authentic Native American jewelry.” “The deliberate misrepresentation and sale of counterfeit Native American jewelry, as seen in this case, inflicts real harm on both the marketplace and the cultural heritage of Native American artists and tribes,” said Assistant Director Doug Ault, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Office of Law Enforcement. “These fraudulent practices deceive consumers and undermine the economic wellbeing of Native American communities. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, in partnership with the Indian Arts and Crafts Board, remains steadfast in investigating Indian Arts and Crafts Act violations. Our dedicated team of special agents works tirelessly to protect the integrity and authenticity of Native American art, ensuring that artists and tribes are recognized and respected for their genuine craftsmanship.” “By statute, the Indian Arts and Crafts Board, U.S. Department of the Interior, is responsible for administering and enforcing the Indian Arts and Crafts Act, a truth-in-marketing law intended to remove counterfeit Indian art from the marketplace to protect Indian artists, economies, and cultures, as well as consumers nationwide,” said Indian Arts and Crafts Board Director Meridith Stanton. “By selling imported jewelry from Asia misrepresented as authentic Apache, Laguna, Navajo, and Zuni jewelry through her eBay store, Breivis undercut the livelihoods and traditions of these Tribes and the integrity of their artists’ creative work and defrauded vulnerable customers. We thank the Office of the U.S. Attorney-District of Arizona and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service IACA Investigative Unit for their diligent work on this case.” U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office of Law Enforcement conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Aron Ketchel, District of Arizona, Phoenix, handled the prosecution. CASE NUMBER: CR-26-00846-PHX-ASB RELEASE NUMBER: 2026-132_Breivis # # # For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/ Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.


title: Final defendant sentenced to 21 years for distributing fentanyl resulting in fatal overdose in Homeland Security Task Force case

component: USAO - Alaska

body_text: ANCHORAGE, Alaska – A Fairbanks woman was sentenced today to 21 years in prison for her role in distributing fentanyl that resulted in the overdose death of a local man in 2022. According to court documents, from May to July 2022, Samantha Pearson, 39, and Edward Ginnis, 40, of Fairbanks, conspired together and with others to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute drugs in the Fairbanks area. Specifically, Ginnis distributed drugs to Pearson, who then sold the substances to others. Ginnis and Pearson’s actions were a small part of a larger drug trafficking enterprise allegedly being directed by an inmate in a California prison. On or about June 11, 2022, Ginnis received a shipment of drugs through the mail that contained fentanyl. Later that day, Ginnis sent text messages to several distributors asking if they had potential purchasers. Pearson offered to help sell drugs. On June 25, Adam Sakkinen, 32, an individual who struggled with heroin usage, messaged Pearson asking to purchase drugs. Around noon, Pearson agreed to sell drugs to Sakkinen. Sakkinen sent Pearson $50.00 before messaging that he was on his way. At 12:34 p.m., Sakkinen called Pearson. Later, at 12:58 p.m. that same day, local fire and emergency medical services responded to a single car accident on the side of a road in Badger, Alaska. First responders found Sakkinen unconscious behind the wheel of a car with drug paraphernalia in his hands and near him. Law enforcement officials tested the paraphernalia, and it tested positive for fentanyl. First responders administered six doses of Narcan to Sakkinen and he regained a pulse. Sakkinen was transported to two hospitals and was put on life support at a hospital in Anchorage. Sakkinen spent 11 days in the intensive care unit before he passed away. A sample of Sakkinen’s blood was sent for testing and lab results found that he had 20 nanograms per milliliter of fentanyl in his bloodstream at the time of his death. Reports show that the average lethal level of fentanyl in the bloodstream is eight nanograms per milliliter. On Jan. 18, 2025, Pearson and Ginnis were indicted on federal drug trafficking charges. Pearson and Ginnis both pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances resulting in death on April 20, 2026, and April 3, 2025, respectively. On July 8, 2025, Ginnis was sentenced to 22 years in prison. In handing down Pearson’s sentence, the Court recognized the devastating impact fentanyl has had in Alaskan communities, stating that “this was more of a poisoning than an overdose.” The Court also emphasized the need for general deterrence by stating that the public should know that if someone sells an illegal substance and another person dies, the sentence imposed will be harsh. “This sentence is the conclusion of a multi-year investigation and prosecution to hold Ms. Pearson and Mr. Ginnis accountable for their greed-motivated decision to distribute the drugs that took an innocent life,” said U.S. Attorney Scott E. Bradford for the District of Oregon. “I commend the phenomenal investigatory and prosecutorial efforts put forth by the Assistant U.S. Attorneys and law enforcement in Alaska throughout this case. It takes all of us to dismantle the drug pipeline targeting our country.” “Fentanyl traffickers who choose profit over human life will be held accountable,” said Robert A. Saccone, Special Agent in Charge, Drug Enforcement Administration Seattle Field Division. “The defendant’s role in distributing the fentanyl that killed a member of the Fairbanks community underscores the deadly consequences of this poison. Through Fentanyl Free America, DEA is relentlessly disrupting the criminal networks driving this crisis, reducing the availability of fentanyl, and protecting American lives. DEA and our law enforcement partners will not stop until those responsible are brought to justice.” “Those who traffic fentanyl in Alaska endanger entire communities and destroy families,” said Colonel Maurice Hughes, Director of the Alaska State Troopers. “This sentence reinforces a simple point: drug traffickers will be held accountable for the destruction that they cause. The Alaska State Troopers, alongside our local, state, and federal partners, will continue to relentlessly pursue these criminals, disrupt their operations, and protect Alaskans from the deadly impact of these illicit substances.” The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Alaska has been recused from this case with the exception of certain personnel. Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven D. Clymer from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of New York has been appointed as Special Attorney to the United States Attorney General to assist with this and other recused cases. He reports to and acts under the direction of the Deputy Attorney General, or his delegee, or U.S. Attorney Bradford in these cases. Special Attorney Clymer supervises personnel from the District of Alaska who have been exempted from the recusal. The DEA Seattle Field Division and Anchorage District Office, Alaska State Troopers, North Slope Borough Police Department, North Pole Police Department and Fairbanks Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stephan Collins, Chris Schroeder and Alana Weber are prosecuting the case. This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Region One comprises agents and officers from Federal Bureau of Investigation; U.S. Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations – Seattle; the United States Attorney’s Office(s) for the Districts of Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, Eastern Washington, and Western Washington; the Drug Enforcement Administration; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; U.S. Marshals Service; Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation Division; U.S. Postal Inspection Service; U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP); CBP – Office of Field Operations; CBP – Air & Marine Operations; U.S. Border Patrol; U.S. Coast Guard, Coast Guard Investigative Service; and Transportation Security Administration, Law Enforcement/Federal Air Marshal Service, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Alaska. ###


title: Texas Physician Sentenced to 12 Years in Prison for Operating a Houston-Area Pill Mill

body_text: A Texas physician was sentenced yesterday to 12.5 years in prison for operating her Kingwood medical clinic as an illegal pill mill that issued prescriptions for over 3 million opioid pills. According to court documents, Maryam Qayum, M.D., 68, of Montgomery County, Texas, owned, operated, and was the sole prescriber at Recare Health Clinic (Recare). Qayum operated Recare as a cash-only pill-mill, selling controlled substance prescriptions to street-level drug dealers who were referred to at Recare as “providers.” “Providers” purchased prescriptions for high strength, highly addictive opioids oxycodone and hydrocodone. Qayum issued these prescriptions without a legitimate medical purpose, and often without ever interacting with the patient. According to court documents, Qayum issued prescriptions for more than 3 million opioid pills between 2022 and 2025, when her clinic was shut down by law enforcement. Court documents detail how Recare, like many pill-mill clinics, operated well outside the course of a normal medical practice, including charging more for prescriptions for drugs with higher street value. A prescription for oxycodone 30mg cost as much as $500, while hydrocodone prescriptions were often $300, and Recare’s staff frequently took “tips” from drug dealers to fast track their patients and prescriptions. The following note listing the cash price for each prescription was seized when law enforcement executed a search warrant at Recare. Note seized from Qayum’s clinic showing cash prices for control substance prescriptions In March 2026, Qayum pleaded guilty to conspiracy to unlawfully distribute controlled substances. In addition to Qayum, four other defendants were previously sentenced in this case: Melvin Sampson, 56, of Houston, Texas, was sentenced to 210 months in prison in June 2026. In March 2026, Sampson pleaded guilty to conspiracy to unlawfully distribute controlled substances. Sampson was a street-level drug dealer who brought patients to Recare, filled prescriptions at Surge Rx and elsewhere, and resold the drugs he obtained on the black market. Tomi-Ko Bowers, APRN, 71, of Cleveland, Texas, was sentenced to 96 months in prison in June 2026. In March 2026, Bowers pleaded guilty to conspiracy to unlawfully distribute controlled substances and was a nurse practitioner at Recare. Lester Stokes, 38, of Houston, Texas, was sentenced to 63 months in prison in June 2026. In March 2026, Stokes pleaded guilty to conspiracy to unlawfully distribute controlled substances and was Recare’s security guard. Jared Williams, RPh, 49, of Pearland, Texas, was sentenced to 42 months in prison in July 2026. In March 2026, Williams pleaded guilty to unlawfully distributing a controlled substance and was the owner and pharmacist in charge at Surge Rx, which filled illegitimate prescriptions issued by Qayum. DEA and the Conroe Police Department investigated the case. Acting Assistant Chief Devon Helfmeyer and Trial Attorney Emily Reeder-Ricchetti of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Alex Alum for the Southern District of Texas prosecuted the case. On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the Fraud Division. The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs. The Department of Justice’s Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program, currently comprised of nine strike forces operating in federal districts across the country, has charged more than 6,200 defendants who collectively billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $45 billion since 2007. In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with the Office of the Inspector General for the Department of Health and Human Services, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit .