title: Minnesota Man Pleads Guilty to Filing a False Claim with the IRS

body_text: A Minnesota man pleaded guilty yesterday to filing a false claim with the IRS. According to court documents and statements made in court, Philip Nelson Green filed false individual income tax returns with the IRS for the years 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022. Each of these tax returns reported multiple false or fraudulent items, including false wage information, itemized deductions, withholding amounts and child and dependent care expenses. For the years 2021 and 2022, Green filed false tax returns that collectively sought more than $500,000 in refunds he was not entitled to receive. Green pleaded guilty to one count of making a false claim. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Jan. 28, 2027 and faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison. He also faces a period of supervised release, restitution and monetary penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald of the Justice Department’s National Fraud Enforcement Division and U.S. Attorney Daniel N. Rosen for the District of Minnesota made the announcement. IRS Criminal Investigation is investigating the case. Trial Attorneys Charles A. O’Reilly and Daniel R. Glenn of the National Fraud Enforcement Division’s Tax Section are prosecuting the case. On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the Fraud Division. The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.


title: Justice Department Seeks Relief for Maryland Military Families from Illegal Fees

component: Civil Rights Division

body_text: The Justice Department has issued a letter urging the Maryland Department of Transportation to stop efforts to collect nonresident vehicle permit fees from servicemembers and their spouses that violate the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA). Under Maryland’s current policy, military families across the state are effectively taxed twice when they register a vehicle in their home state and then relocate to Maryland for military service. “Relocation for military service is already a costly endeavor,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “If a vehicle belonging to a servicemember or their spouse is registered in their home state, then that family has already paid their fair share. They should not also be required to pay additional taxes or fees in each state that they move to in compliance with military orders.” The Department is asking Maryland, consistent with the SCRA, to exempt servicemembers and their spouses from the Motor Vehicle Administration’s nonresident vehicle permit fees, refund amounts they have already collected, and update their policies and trainings to ensure that military families are not subject to such fees going forward. For more information about the Department’s enforcement efforts under the SCRA and other laws that protect the rights of servicemembers and their families, please visit www.servicemembers.gov . Servicemembers and their dependents who believe that their rights under the SCRA have been violated should contact the nearest Armed Forces Legal Assistance Program Office. Office locations may be found at legalassistance.law.af.mil .


title: Federal Court Dismisses Another Attempt to Stymie Sable Offshore Corporation’s Oil and Gas Operations

component: Energy and Natural Resources Division

body_text: Note, a press release posted earlier today, Sept. 3, was mistakenly a reprint of an Aug. 21 press release about a related decision. Below is the correct press release regarding a decision issued on Monday, Aug. 31, in this matter. On Monday, the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California dismissed with prejudice the complaint in Center for Biological Diversity v. Burgum — one of several cases challenging Sable Offshore Corp.’s oil and gas operations at the Santa Ynez Unit in the Santa Barbara Channel. This ruling follows another, related ruling issued last month. “States cannot stop the Executive Branch from acting pursuant to Congress’s authorization, especially when it comes to ensuring American energy dominance,” said Associate Attorney General Stanley E. Woodward Jr. “The Department is pleased with the court’s decision. This Department of Justice will never allow California or ideological groups to undermine our Nation’s national security and economic prosperity interests in ensuring availability of this critical resource for Americans.” “This is another victory for American energy independence,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of the Justice Department’s Energy and Natural Resources Division (ENRD). “Two weeks ago, this same court affirmed the federal government’s authority to protect energy security from state overreach through a Defense Production Act order restarting this critical domestic source of oil. This week’s decision protects this critical resource against special interest groups who sought to stymie that same oil production through a lawsuit alleging violations of federal law. We are committed to unleashing American energy, as President Donald J. Trump has directed the Department of Justice and all federal agencies to do.” Following a decade of inactivity, Sable last year sought to restart offshore oil and gas production on Platform Harmony in the Santa Ynez Unit. Plaintiff environmental groups sued, challenging the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM)’s April 2025 decision not to require revision of the development and production plan for Platform Harmony related to Sable’s restart plans. In its decision dismissing the case for lack of standing, the court held that the plaintiffs have not alleged a procedural injury and their theory of causation is “far too hypothetical and attenuated” and “not fairly traceable to BOEM and Sable.” The court instead explained that plaintiffs’ asserted injuries stem from offshore oil and gas operations generally, not from BOEM’s decision. The court further held that the plaintiffs’ injuries are not redressable because BOEM has substantial discretion in deciding whether to require revision of the plan. Attorneys with ENRD’s Natural Resources Section handled this matter.


title: Lynchburg Man to Serve More Than 17 Years for Selling Fentanyl and Methamphetamine While Possessing an Illegal Firearm

component: USAO - Virginia, Western

body_text: LYNCHBURG, Va. – A Lynchburg man, who was in possession of more than 60 pressed fentanyl pills and over 850 grams of methamphetamine, as well as a 9 mm pistol when police pulled him over in June 2024, was sentenced this week to 210 months in federal prison. Cordero Antonio Trent, 36, pled guilty in May 2026 to one count of possessing with the intent to distribute and distributing 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and fentanyl, and one count of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and using and carrying a firearm during a drug trafficking crime. “This office will continue to aggressively prosecute those who possess illegal firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking. Illegal firearms, fentanyl, and meth present a lethal mixture that places our citizens and communities at risk. I want to thank the Drug Enforcement Administration, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, and the Lynchburg Police Department for the work on this investigation and commitment to keeping Lynchburg safe,” First Assistant United States Attorney Robert N. Tracci said today. “This sentence represents a comprehensive approach, where local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies collaborate to relentlessly pursue violent drug traffickers distributing dangerous narcotics in Southwestern Virginia,” said Shane Todd, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Washington Division. "Together, we remain committed to safeguarding our communities and ensuring that justice prevails. Our united efforts not only disrupt the flow of illicit substances but also help to dismantle the criminal networks that threaten the safety of our citizens.” According to court documents, on June 26, 2024, law enforcement conducted a traffic stop on a silver Dodge Charger in which Trent was a passenger. Law enforcement had been searching for Trent, who had active warrants for his arrest. During the traffic stop, officers saw an orange and black backpack between Trent’s legs. Trent was removed from the vehicle and searched. He was found in possession of two cellular phones and a bag of marijuana. In addition, Trent was in possession of $4,900 in cash. Additionally, in a small bag around Trent’s neck, officers found a plastic bag containing 61 pressed fentanyl pills. Inside the orange and black backpack, officers found a large bag containing a white crystal substance ultimately determined to be 850 grams of methamphetamine. In the glove compartment, immediately in front of where Trent was sitting, officers found an FNH 9 mm pistol. The firearm was tested and determined to have a latent fingerprint that matched Trent. The Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Lynchburg Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean Welsh is prosecuting the case.


title: North Texas Man Sentenced to 35 Years in Federal Prison for Producing Child Pornography

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: MIDLAND, Texas– A Texas man was sentenced in a federal court in Midland today to 420 months in prison for eight counts related to his production and distribution of child sexual abuse material, announced U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons for the Western District of Texas. According to court documents, Raymond Daniel Solis, 28, sexually exploited multiple minor females via Snapchat. The FBI began an investigation based on a complaint relating to one of the victims. Solis sent the complainant victim a detailed note outlining a “sugar baby” arrangement wherein Solis would pay her $800 per week for a one-hour “session.” During the session, the victim would take and send multiple nude images of herself to Solis through Snapchat. The minor victim sent numerous media files to Solis while he directed her through various camera angles and poses. As part of their investigation, the FBI traced Solis’s Snapchat username to his Google email address and IP address in Midland. Agents discovered Solis also shared CSAM depicting a 16-year-old victim through Snapchat in January 2024. Agents located and interviewed Solis in April 2025. At that time, Solis admitted that he had been producing CSAM of female minors since 2018. Solis would entice the victims by offering up to $1,000 per one-hour session and would threaten to contact their families if they did not send him additional images. A review of Solis’s iPhone revealed CSAM depicting seven minor females, ranging from 12 to 17 years old. Solis also saved the social media profile pages of six of the victims, along with screen recordings of his chat conversations with three of them. A nine-count indictment charged Solis with production of visual depictions of minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct—one count for each of the seven victims—one distribution of child pornography count and one possession of child pornography count. He pleaded guilty on June 2 to all seven production counts and the distribution charge. In addition to the 35-year prison sentence, U.S. District Judge David Counts ordered Solis to pay a total of $14,205.96 in restitution to the victims. “This child predator used the convenience of a cell phone to abuse these young girls,” said U.S. Attorney Simmons. “Predators like this defendant are lurking in every corner of our society, including, and maybe especially, on the internet. Parents must pay attention to what their kids are doing on their phones, should closely monitor who they are talking to, and should strictly limit access to those messaging apps that are often the favored tool of sexual predators. If your child ever becomes a victim of child exploitation, immediately report it to the FBI. Doing so is key to making sure perpetrators spend decades locked away from those they would otherwise hurt.” “The FBI remains unwavering in its commitment to protect America’s youth from predators like Solis,” said FBI Acting Special Agent in Charge Coult W. Markovsky. “Let this be a message to all those who think they can exploit and manipulate young girls utilizing their social media accounts to send explicit images, the FBI will find you and ensure you spend the rest of your days behind bars." The FBI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather Haywood prosecuted the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc . ###


title: Foreign Nationals Indicted and in Federal Custody for Alleged $40M Timeshare Fraud

body_text: SAN ANTONIO – As part of a Homeland Security Task Force case, two Mexican nationals were extradited to the United States this week after being indicted in a federal court in San Antonio for allegedly running a timeshare fraud resale scheme, announced U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons for the Western District of Texas. According to court documents, Christian Felipe Rodriguez Peraza aka Jose Mario Ochoa Rodriguez, of Mazatlan, Sinaloa, Mexico, and his wife Brenda Tamayo Corona aka Jazmin Oliva Chacon, of Mexico, along with co-defendants Michael Ian Hollands , of the United Kingdom, and Yorlena Alfonso Cuesta , allegedly conspired to victimize U.S. citizens who owned timeshares on Mexico’s pacific coast. The perpetrators deceived timeshare owners by telling them that their properties had been sold, but that proceeds could only be collected if the victims paid various fees and taxes in advance. In so doing, the fraudsters posed as U.S. and Mexican government officials and used the identities of real American lawyers to lend credence to their claims. An indictment alleges that Rodriguez, through Hollands and other co-conspirators, laundered the victims’ funds through U.S.-based entities and bank accounts. The indictment alleges the group, led by Rodriguez, stole more than $40 million from timeshare owners. Rodriguez, Tamayo, Hollands, and Cuesta are each charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, money laundering conspiracy, and conspiracy to engage in monetary transactions in property derived from specified unlawful activity. Rodriguez and Tamayo were arrested in France earlier this year and, on Monday, were extradited to the United States. They made their initial court appearances Tuesday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Kelly Stephenson of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas. If convicted, the defendants face up to 20 years in federal prison for the wire fraud charge and 20 years for the money laundering conspiracy charge. The third charge, conspiracy to engage in monetary transactions, carries a penalty of up to 10 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. “Many of the elderly victims in this case sent all the money they had and more based on the lies told to them by this group of fraudsters,” said U.S. Attorney Simmons. “In case you haven’t noticed, this Department of Justice is uniquely committed to rooting out fraud in all of its forms, especially fraud conducted against Americans by transnational criminal organizations like this one. The long arm of American justice will continue to reach out and touch those who seek to enrich themselves to the detriment of Americans.” “Our criminal investigators have been at the center of this investigation as a core part of our responsibility to detect and prevent threats to the integrity of Treasury programs and operations,” said Deputy Inspector General Loren Sciurba for the Department of the Treasury, Office of Inspector General. “Impersonation of government agencies victimizes countless Americans daily. We are proud that these joint law enforcement efforts have brought these individuals to justice.” “This alleged $40 million scheme was a brazen attempt to exploit timeshare owners and profit from deception, and we will continue working to identify and disrupt fraud schemes that target the public,” said DHS Inspector General Joseph V. Cuffari, Ph.D. “We thank our federal and international partners for their tireless efforts to hold those accused of these crimes accountable.” “The fraud network uncovered through this investigation represents a calculated and deeply harmful scheme driven by international criminals who preyed on U.S. timeshare owners,” said Jeffrey Tyler, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Washington Field Office’s Criminal Division. “The FBI remains fully committed to working with our law enforcement partners to dismantle violent criminal organizations and ensure that those responsible for exploiting victims and laundering their proceeds are held accountable.” Co-defendants Hollands and Cuesta were previously apprehended, and their matters are currently pending. This matter was investigated by the United States Department of Treasury – Inspector General, the Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with assistance from Immigration and Customs Enforcement Enforcement and Removal Operations, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office, and the U.S. Marshals Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Chung is prosecuting the case. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs worked with the Government of France to secure the arrest and August 31 extradition of Rodriguez Peraza and Tamayo Corona to the United States. If you feel that you may have been a victim of a fraudulent advance fee scheme related to Mexican timeshares, please fill out the requested information at https://forms.fbi.gov/victims/TimeShare-Wf/view . Law enforcement will attempt to verify the potential loss and confirm that it is related to the scheme charged in this matter. Please be advised that several similar schemes operated during the same time period, and so your loss may not be tied to the matter charged in this case. While we cannot guarantee that any specific claim can be addressed or funds recovered, the agencies will do their best to vet and verify any submissions. This case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of U.S. law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. ###


title: Federal Judge Orders Illegal Alien to Pay Nearly $10,000 and Serve Prison Time for Ramming ICE Vehicles in January

component: USAO - Texas, Western

body_text: SAN ANTONIO – An illegal alien from Cuba was sentenced in a federal court in San Antonio on Tuesday to 10 months in prison and ordered to pay nearly $10,000 in restitution for destruction of government property, announced U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons for the Western District of Texas. According to court documents, Robyn Argote-Brooks, 26, of Havana, Cuba, used his vehicle to damage an SUV and a sedan, both of which were property of the United States and maintained by ICE. The amount of damage to each vehicle exceeded $1,000. Argote-Brooks was arrested and charged via complaint with one count of destruction of government property. An indictment filed Feb. 4 added a second destruction of government property count as well as a charge of forcibly assaulting a federal officer. On May 8, a federal jury convicted Argote-Brooks of both destruction of government property counts. U.S. District Judge Fred Biery sentenced Argote-Brooks to 10 months in federal prison for each count, which will run concurrently. Biery also ordered three years of supervised release, a $200 special assessment, and $9,767 in restitution for the damages. ICE Homeland Security Investigations investigated the case with assistance from ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Amy Walker and Todd Keagle prosecuted the case. This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. ###


title: Armenian Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Smuggling Controlled Goods to Russia

component: Criminal - Office of International Affairs

body_text: AUSTIN, Texas – An Armenian national was sentenced in a federal court in Austin on Tuesday to 26 months in prison for his participation in a criminal conspiracy to export goods from the United States to the Russian Federation through the Republic of Armenia without the requisite license or authorization from the U.S. government, announced U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons for the Western District of Texas. According to court documents, from February 2022 until at least August 2024, Kamo Kirakosyan knowingly and willfully combined, conspired, and agreed with others to export and reexport goods subject to the Export Administration Regulations without having first obtained the required licenses from the U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry & Security. The exported goods included items that could be used for semiconductor manufacturing. Kirakosyan became the straw or substitute purchaser of the U.S.-origin goods for his co-conspirators shortly after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022, and the imposition of additional sanctions and export restrictions on Russia. As part of the scheme, Kirakosyan sent a co-conspirator instructions on opening a bank account in Armenia for the purpose of evading sanctions. While arranging the transshipment of goods to Russia, Kirakosyan represented himself to U.S. companies as the Armenian buyer of goods and did not provide truthful information about the end users, despite the U.S. companies’ requests for end user statements, and despite Kirakosyan’s knowledge that the unauthorized export or reexport to Russia of certain shipments was prohibited without a license. On Feb. 23, 2023, the company Kirakosyan conspired with was designated by Department of the Treasury, Office of Foreign Assets Control and added to the Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List, subjecting the Russian company to U.S. blocking sanctions and a general prohibition on transacting with U.S. persons or entities. Kirakosyan was initially charged in a criminal complaint on or about July 31, 2024. He was extradited from Germany to the U.S. on Aug. 29, 2025, and, in April of this year, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to violate federal law. The FBI San Antonio Counterintelligence Task Force, comprised of the Bureau of Industry and Security of the U.S. Department of Commerce, and other partners, led the investigation. The FBI’s Legal Attaché office in Berlin provided significant assistance. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs also played a key role in securing Kirakosyan’s extradition to the United States. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mark Roomberg and Keith Henneke prosecuted the case with assistance from the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section. ###


title: Hardin County Woman Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Distributing Methamphetamine

component: USAO - Tennessee, Western

body_text: Jackson, TN – Lytrice Adams, 36 , of Savannah, Tennessee, has been sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for distributing methamphetamine. D. Michael Dunavant, United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the sentence today. According to information presented in court, in July 2023, agents with the Drug Enforcement Administration and the 24th Judicial District Drug Task Force began investigating a drug trafficking operation in Hardin County, Tennessee. During the investigation, agents utilized controlled purchases of methamphetamine, Title III wiretaps, and other investigative tactics. Using wiretap interceptions, agents identified Alveto Higgins—who was then residing in Middle Tennessee—as the supplier of the operation. The controlled purchases were made from Adams and Higgins at Adams’s residence in Savannah. Agents were ultimately able to purchase over 350 grams of actual methamphetamine from Adams and Higgins. Following her guilty plea to distributing methamphetamine, United States District Judge S. Thomas Anderson sentenced Adams to 120 months in prison and five years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system. Higgins has also pled guilty in this case, and he will be sentenced later this year. U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said, "Using various methods, techniques, sources, and strategies, we are taking the fight to the drug trafficking organizations. Drug dealers can no longer hide in any part of the Western District of Tennessee, and this sentence demonstrates our commitment to remove poison peddlers from our streets." “Drug dealers like Lytrice Adams, who poison our communities and display little to no empathy for their victims, should expect to meet the full weight of our justice system,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Jim Scott. “The lengthy sentence handed down today should give Ms. Adams time to reflect on her criminal actions and hopefully she’ll come out of prison a better person.” This case was investigated by members of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the 24th Judicial Drug Task Force, and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI). Assistant United States Attorney Josh Morrow prosecuted this case on behalf of the government. ### For more information, please contact the media relations team at USATNW.Media@usdoj.gov . Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office on Facebook or on X at @WDTNNews for office news and updates.


title: Wellsville man who had sex with a minor pleads guilty to distributing videos

component: USAO - New York, Western

body_text: BUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced that Jason Goodsell, 41, of Wellsville, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo to distribution of child pornography, which carries a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison, a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, and a $250,000 fine. Between June 2020 and December 2021, Goodsell, then approximately 35 years old, was engaged in a sexual relationship with a minor girl, who was 16 years and 17 years old. During that time, Goodsell used a cellular device to record videos while they were engaged in sexually explicit conduct. In June 2022, Goodsell distributed multiple videos of that conduct through Facebook Messenger. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Franz M. Wright and Colleen M. McCarthy are handling the prosecution of the case. The plea is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Allen D. Davis, II, the Wellsville Police Department, under the direction of Chief Timothy O’Grady, and the New York State Police, under the direction of Major Amie Feroleto. Additional Assistance was provided by the Pittsburgh Office of the FBI. Sentencing is scheduled for January 11, 2027, before Judge Vilardo. # # # #


title: Prior felon arrested on gun and drug charges

body_text: ROCHESTER, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Javaris Corbit, 36, of Rochester, NY, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl and 500 grams or more of cocaine, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and being a felon in possession of a firearm, which carry a mandatory minimum penalty of 15 years in prison, a maximum of life, and a fine of $10,000,000. According to the criminal complaint, since March 2025, the Rochester Police Department has been investigating Corbit’s illegal drug trafficking activities, which include distributing large quantities of fentanyl and cocaine in Rochester. Corbit utilized multiple locations to prepare, package, and sell narcotics, store the proceeds of his narcotics sales, and store illegal firearms, including residences on Elk Street and Manhattan Square Drive. The investigation also identified multiple individuals who worked for Corbit’s drug-trafficking organization. On June 24, 2026, search warrants were executed at multiple residences in Rochester, including the Elk Street and Manhattan Square Drive residences, during which investigators seized approximately $42,418 in cash, four loaded firearms, ammunition, jewelry, drug paraphernalia and approximately 1.75 kilograms of fentanyl and 2.15 kilograms of cocaine. Corbit was previously convicted of four felony charges in 2012, 2017, and 2023, and is legally prohibited from possessing firearms. Corbit made an initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark W. Pedersen and was detained pending trial. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon N. Gonzalez. The complaint is the result of an investigation by the Rochester Police Department, under the direction of Chief David Smith, Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Acting Special Agent-in-Charge Anthony Patrone, the U.S. Marshals Service, under the direction of Marshal Charles Salina, and the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Allen D. Davis, II. The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. # # # #


title: Federal Jury Convicts Man and Woman of Interfering with Federal Officers Performing Official Duties and Related Offenses

component: USAO - North Carolina, Western

body_text: CHARLOTTE, N.C. – A federal jury in Charlotte returned a guilty verdict today against William Stanley, 25, and Heather Morrow, 45, both of Charlotte, for impeding and disrupting the performance of official duties of government employees; failure to comply with the lawful direction of an authorized individual; and obstructing the entrance on a federal property. Morrow was also found guilty of assaulting, resisting, opposing, impeding, intimidating, and interfering with federal officers performing their official duties. Stanley was found not guilty of that offense. U.S. District Court Judge Matthew E. Orso presided over the trial. According to court documents, trial evidence, and witness testimony, on November 16, 2025, Morrow and Stanley, aiding and abetting one another, willfully entered federal property, specifically, the grounds of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement/Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE/ERO) building in Charlotte. Trial evidence established that, while there, Stanley and Morrow engaged in disorderly conduct and other actions that unreasonably obstructed the usual use of the building’s entrances and parking lots. For example, according to evidence presented at trial and witness testimony, Stanley, Morrow, and three other individuals placed cones on the entrance driveway to the federal property and formed a human chain, blocking ERO Deportation Officers from entering in their official vehicles. In addition, Morrow’s vehicle was parked in the exit lane, blocking vehicles from exiting the federal property. U.S. v. Stanley and Morrow – On Nov. 16, 2025, the defendants and others placed cones blocking the entrance to the federal property. U.S. v. Stanley and Morrow – On Nov. 16, 2025, Morrow’s vehicle was used to block the exit lane of the federal property Trial evidence further established that Stanley and Morrow’s conduct impeded and disrupted ERO Deportation Officers in the performance of their official duties and the defendants failed to comply with the lawful direction of ERO Deportation Officers. According to trial evidence, Stanley stood in front of the government-issued vehicle of an ERO Deportation Officer, blocking the officer from entering the property. Stanley then placed his hands on the hood of the ERO Deportation Officer’s vehicle to stop the officer from entering. While the ERO Deportation Officer was attempting to arrest Stanley, Morrow grabbed the officer by the shoulder, interfering with the officer’s attempt to take Stanley into custody, thereby forcibly assaulting, resisting, opposing, impeding, and intimidating the ERO Deportation Officer while he was engaged in the performance of their official duties, with such acts constituting simple assault. U.S. v. Stanley and Morrow – On Nov. 16, 2025, Stanley attempted to stop an ERO Deportation Officer’s government-issued vehicle from entering the federal property U.S. v. Stanley and Morrow – On Nov. 16, 2025, Morrow assaulted, resisted, opposed, impeded, and intimidated the ERO Deportation Officer while he was engaged attesting to place Stanley in custody. The defendants were released on bond. A sentencing date has not been set. The FBI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kenneth Smith and Caryn Finley prosecuted the case


title: U.S. Attorney’s Office Returns Culturally Significant Artifacts to Osage Nation Following Civil Forfeiture Judgment

component: USAO - Missouri, Western

body_text: KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Missouri announced that a collection of culturally significant Native American artifacts has been returned to the Osage Nation after the conclusion of a civil forfeiture action involving items unlawfully removed from federal lands near Harry S. Truman Lake. The artifacts include a bag of Scallorn arrowheads that originate from a prehistoric archaeological site historically associated with the Osage Nation. Federal agencies, including the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, spent several years investigating unauthorized excavation at the site and recovering the materials so they could be properly safeguarded. Following the entry of judgment by U.S. District Judge Brian Wimes, the Osage Nation and the United States executed a settlement ensuring the return of the arrowheads to the tribe. No other claims were filed for the property. “Culturally significant items are more than objects, they are a connection to history, traditions, and identity,” said R. Matthew Price, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Missouri. “We are honored to help return these items to their rightful home and uphold the federal government’s commitment to protecting the heritage and sovereignty of the Osage Nation.” The remaining archaeological materials will be handled using appropriate cultural resource protocols to ensure respectful treatment and disposition in accordance with federal law. The civil forfeiture action was litigated by Assistant U.S. Attorney James Kirkpatrick in coordination with a related criminal prosecution led by Assistant U.S. Attorneys David Barnes and Cari Walsh. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers jointly made the recovery and restoration of these artifacts possible.


title: Jefferson City Man Indicted for Distribution of Fentanyl Resulting in Death

body_text: JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – A Jefferson City, Mo., man was indicted by a federal grand jury for multiple counts of distribution of fentanyl, including one count of distribution of fentanyl resulting in death. Bryan Isiah Thomas was previously charged in a two-count indictment filed in the Western District of Missouri on July 21, 2026. A federal grand jury in Jefferson City, Mo. returned a superseding indictment today alleging that Thomas distributed fentanyl in Cole County on three separate occasions in March 2026, including one occasion where the fentanyl caused the death of another. The charges contained in this indictment are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence. This case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Jordan T. Duenckel. It was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Agency and the Callaway County Sheriff’s Office.


title: Eight Charged in Boone County Cyber Crime Investigation Involving Minors and Sex Trafficking

body_text: JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Missouri announced eight prosecutions arising from a proactive investigation by the Boone County Cyber Crimes Taskforce. During the week of June 22, 2026, the Boone County Sheriff’s Office conducted a proactive undercover operation seeking out potential online child sexual predators. Undercover law enforcement posed as a minor female on an online platform advertising “escort” services. Each of the individuals below traveled to an agreed upon location to engage in sexual activity with a minor. Daniel Walter Follett, 57, Columbia, Mo. -On Sept. 2, 2026, a federal grand jury charged the former general counsel for the Missouri Department of Revenue with one count of attempted enticement of a minor and one count of attempted sex trafficking of a minor. On June 23, 2026, Follett allegedly traveled to a hotel in Columbia to pay for sex with an individual he believed to be under the age of 18. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ashley S. Turner. It was investigated by the Boone County Sheriff’s Office. Rollie Howard Pogue, 30, Moberly, Mo. -On Sept. 2, 2026, a federal grand jury charged the prior sex offender with one count of attempted enticement of a minor, one count of attempted sex trafficking of a minor, and one count of committing a felony offense involving a minor while required to register as a sex offender. On June 23, 2026, Pogue allegedly traveled to a hotel in Columbia to pay for sex with an individual he believed to be under the age of 18. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ashley S. Turner. It was investigated by the Boone County Sheriff’s Office. Jose Alfredo Jimenez-Hernandez, 54, Columbia, Mo. -On Sept. 1, 2026, a federal grand jury charged the illegal alien with one count of attempted enticement of a minor and one count of attempted sex trafficking of a minor. On June 23, 2026, Jimenez-Hernandez allegedly traveled to a gas station in Columbia to meet with an individual he believed to be under the age of 18. Jimenez-Hernandez intended to pay the individual for sex. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Nick Komoroski. It was investigated by the Boone County Sheriff’s Office. Rifat Hasan Apurba, 30, Columbia, Mo. -On Sept. 1, 2026, a federal grand jury charged the University of Missouri graduate assistant with one count of attempted enticement of a minor and one count attempted sex trafficking of a minor. On June 22, 2026, Apurba traveled to a gas station to meet an individual he believed was under the age of 18. Apurba intended to pay the individual for sex. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kelly Collins. It was investigated by the Boone County Sheriff’s Office. Ethan Schmidt Deimeke, 28, Columbia, Mo.- On Sept. 1, 2026, a federal grand jury charged the local attorney with one count of attempted enticement of a minor and one count of attempted sex trafficking of a minor. On June 24, 2026, Deimeke allegedly traveled to a hotel in Columbia to pay for sex with an individual he believed to be under the age of 18. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Nick Komoroski. It was investigated by the Boone County Sheriff’s Office. Brice Leslie Morris, 35, Columbia, Mo - On Sept. 2, 2026, a federal grand jury charged Morris with one count of attempted enticement of a minor and one count attempted sex trafficking of a minor. On June 24, 2026, Morris allegedly traveled to a hotel in Columbia to pay for sex with an individual he believed to be under the age of 18. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ashley S. Turner. It was investigated by the Boone County Sheriff’s Office. John Binu, 25, Jefferson City, Mo.- On Sept. 1, 2026, a federal grand jury charged Binu with one count of attempted enticement of a minor and one count attempted sex trafficking of a minor. On June 25, 2026, Binu allegedly traveled to a hotel in Columbia to pay for sex with two individuals he believed to be under the age of 18. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States attorney Nick Komoroski. It was investigated by the Boone County Sheriff’s Office. David Allen Burres, 32, Plattsburg, Mo. On Sept. 2, 2026, a federal grand jury charged Burres, an over the road trucker, with one count of attempted enticement of a minor and one count of receipt of child pornography. On June 24, 2026, Burres allegedly met an individual he believed to be 14 years old on a chat application. This was during the same proactive investigation but involved a law enforcement officer posing as a 14-year-old female on a chat application. Burres attempted to entice the individual to engage in sexual activity. Burres traveled to a Walmart in Columbia to meet with the individual he believed to be 14 years old. Burres intended for the minor child to ride with him in his truck and engage in sexual activity. After his arrest, law enforcement located Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) on Burres’ cellular telephone. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ashley S. Turner. It was investigated by the Boone County Sheriff’s Office, the State Technical Assistance Team (STAT), and the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI). The charges contained in these indictments are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence. Project Safe Childhood This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc . For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab "resources."


title: Keithville Man Sentenced to Six Years for Firearms Charge

component: USAO - Louisiana, Western

body_text: SHREVEPORT – On August 24, 2026, United States District Judge S. Maurice Hicks, Jr. sentenced Jacob L. Weaver , 25, of Keithville, to 72 months in federal prison for Felon in Possession of a Firearm with Ammunition after his April 28, 2026, guilty plea. According to court documents, on July 25, 2025, Shreveport Police Department (SPD) officers responded to an alert regarding a stolen gray Kia traveling eastbound on Kings Highway. Officers attempted a traffic stop, but the vehicle fled at high speeds through several residential areas before crashing into a soccer goal on the campus of a local school. Weaver , along with two other occupants, fled on foot. After a brief pursuit, Weaver was tased and detained. Inside the stolen Kia, officers found a backpack in the back seat containing a loaded pistol, which had been reported stolen in 2020. In recorded jail calls, Weaver admitted to being a backseat passenger in the vehicle, acknowledged procuring the firearm, and admitted he was a convicted felon prohibited from possessing it. U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Keller for the Western District of Louisiana made the announcement. (SPD) investigated this case. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Allison Foster with assistance from Paralegal Specialist Emily Favrot. This case was prosecuted as 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. You may find a copy of this press release (and any updates) on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Louisiana at www.justice.gov/usao-wdla. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Western District of Louisiana at www.lawd.uscourts.gov or at https://www.lawd.uscourts.gov/cmecf-pacer, under Case Number 26-00007. ### CONTACT: Public Affairs: USALAW-News@usdoj.gov United States Attorney’s Office: www.justice.gov/usao-wdla X: @USAO_WDLA Facebook: USAO_WDLA (337) 262-6704


title: United States Obtains $2.6M Settlement with Heuser Health  as Part of Broader “Skin Scam” Fraud-Fighting Initiative

component: USAO - Kentucky, Western

body_text: Louisville, KY – Heuser Health, a Louisville-based provider of at-home wound care services, has agreed to pay $2,646,186.72 to resolve allegations that it violated the False Claims Act by overbilling Medicare and TRICARE for costly skin substitute products. This settlement is part of a broader investigative initiative known as “Operation Skin Scam,” aimed at uncovering fraud schemes involving expensive skin substitute materials and holding accountable those who attempt to exploit them. Skin substitutes are advanced bioengineered or tissue-derived materials used to replace, imitate, or regenerate damaged skin. Heuser Health used these products to treat Medicare and TRICARE beneficiaries suffering from chronic and acute wounds. Federal rules required Heuser Health to bill these products based on their actual invoice price. The United States alleges that Heuser Health submitted, or caused to be submitted, claims using invoice amounts higher than the company’s true purchase prices, leading to inflated reimbursements paid by Medicare and TRICARE. “Healthcare providers must bill federal healthcare programs accurately and transparently,” said United States Attorney Kyle G. Bumgarner for the Western District of Kentucky. “When providers seek reimbursement beyond what they are entitled to receive, it undermines the integrity of Medicare and TRICARE and misuses taxpayer funds. This settlement—part of our wide ‘Skin Scam’ effort—reflects our commitment to enforcing federal billing rules and protecting these essential programs from abuse.” The matter was handled by Assistant United States Attorneys Matt Weyand and Jessica R. C. Malloy with investigative assistance from Auditor Phil Bezehertny of the U.S. Attorney’s Office. The claims alleged by the United States are allegations only. There has been no determination of liability. ###


title: Man Charged with Attempting to Rob City Market in Burlington, Vermont

component: USAO - Vermont

body_text: BURLINGTON – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont stated that Shawn Foster, 44, of Burlington, Vermont, has been charged by criminal complaint with interference with interstate commerce by attempted robbery. On September 1, 2026, Foster had his initial appearance before United States Magistrate Judge Kevin J. Doyle. Judge Doyle ordered Foster detained during the pendency of the case. According to court records, on August 10, 2026, Foster entered the City Market in Burlington, Vermont, and attempted to exit the store with a cart full of merchandise without paying. When confronted by a store employee outside the store, Foster brandished a knife and threatened to cut and kill the employee before fleeing. Foster was identified based on store security footage, and he was later encountered and arrested by Burlington Police Department officers who found a knife on his person. The United States Attorney’s Office emphasizes that the complaint contains allegations only and that Foster is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. Foster faces up to 20 years of imprisonment if convicted. The actual sentence, however, would be determined by the District Court with guidance from the advisory United States Sentencing Guidelines and the statutory sentencing factors. First Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan A. Ophardt commended the swift work of the Burlington Police Department in apprehending Foster, and thanked the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives for their assistance. The prosecutor is Assistant United States Attorney David Golubock. Foster is represented by the Office of the Federal Public Defender. 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: St. Croix Man Sentenced to 60 months on Causing Attempted Possession to  Distribute Fentanyl

component: USAO - Virgin Islands

body_text: St. Thomas, USVI –U.S. Attorney Adam F. Sleeper announced today that Mario Felix, 36, of St. Croix, was sentenced on September 1, 2026 by District Judge Mark A. Kearney to 60 months of imprisonment for causing attempted possession with intent to distribute, five years of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. He will receive credit for the period of time he was detained. According to court documents, on December 31, 2022, a package was randomly selected for inspection during inbound examination of USPS mail. The box was opened and a book containing several plastic bags containing a total of 800 blue pills was found. The pills tested positive for fentanyl. A Drug Enforcement Administration laboratory analysis confirmed that the pills contained 88.67 grams of fentanyl. The package was seized and sent to USPS Forensic Laboratory Services for fingerprint analysis. The defendant’s fingerprints were found on the plastic bag containing the book with the fentanyl. The investigation revealed text messages between the defendant and an individual, where the defendant asked for their mailing address and last name on December 12, 2022. When asked what he was sending, the defendant sent a picture of the book containing the fentanyl pills, stating that there was something inside the book. He told the individual that he was going to give the individual $800 once the individual received the package. On December 17, 2022, he told the individual that he did not have anyone to mail the box for him. On December 27, 2022, the defendant texted the individual that the package had been mailed, but he could only pay the individual $700 because he had to pay another person to deal with the package. Later that day, the defendant informed the individual that the package had been mailed and sent a picture of the postal receipt, which included the tracking number. On December 30th, the defendant told the individual that they could check the post office that day for the package. When the individual went to the post office, they did not receive the package after waiting for a period of time. The individual told the defendant that the post office told them they had to look for the package. The individual then decided to leave the post office without the package. On December 31st, the individual told the defendant that they were still waiting for a call and that the post office closed at 12:00 that day. They told the defendant that when they called the post office, they were told that the package had not yet been found. On January 2, 2023, the individual told the defendant they tried calling the Post Office, but the call was unanswered. The investigation was conducted by Homeland Security Investigations and Customs and Border Protection. Assistant U.S. Attorney Rhonda Williams-Henry prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of the Virgin Islands.


title: Putnam County Man Sentenced to Prison for Fentanyl Crimes

component: USAO - West Virginia, Southern

body_text: CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Demetrius Fitzgerald Green, also known as “D,” 42, of Scott Depot, was sentenced today to six years and two months in prison, to be followed by four years of supervised release, for three counts of distribution of 40 grams or more of a mixture containing fentanyl. According to court documents and statements made in court, on February 18, 2026, February 27, 2026, and March 18, 2026, Green sold quantities of fentanyl exceeding 40 grams during each transaction in Charleston. Investigators determined that Green was responsible for distributing just under 400 grams of fentanyl. Green is among eight individuals indicted following a federal investigation of fentanyl trafficking in the Charleston area. Four defendants pleaded guilty in the main indictment, and another pleaded guilty to separate charges arising from the investigation. The main indictment is pending against one defendant, and the remaining defendant is deceased. An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law . Green has a criminal history that includes prior convictions for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and battery. United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network Team (MDENT), which is composed of the Charleston Police Department, the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office, the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office, the Nitro Police Department, the St. Albans Police Department, and the South Charleston Police Department. United States District Judge Irene C. Berger imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Jeremy B. Wolfe prosecuted the case. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:26-cr-46. ###


title: Inmate Serving Life Sentence for Murder Pleads Guilty to Stealing $354,813.98 in Veterans Benefits

component: National Fraud Enforcement Division

body_text: CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Zachary Hess Dawson, 39, an inmate at the Mount Olive Correctional Complex, pleaded guilty today to theft of public money. Dawson admitted that he fraudulently obtained $354,813.98 in United States Department of Veterans Affairs benefits. According to court documents and statements made in court, Dawson received the recurring benefits beginning on or about January 12, 2017, and continuing to on or about September 30, 2025. As part of his guilty plea, Dawson admitted that he obtained the benefits fraudulently by falsely claiming that he suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder resulting from his U.S. Army service in Afghanistan during the summer of 2009. Dawson further admitted that he knew he was not eligible for the benefits, and knowingly and willfully made false statements to VA and Veterans Benefits Administration officials to obtain them. Dawson is scheduled to be sentenced on January 7, 2027, and faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000. Dawson also owes $354,813.98 in restitution. Dawson was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole in November 2024 after pleading guilty to first-degree murder in Greenbrier County Circuit Court in the fatal Thanksgiving 2022 beating of his wife in Alderson. United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs-Office of Inspector General (VA-OIG). United States District Judge Irene C. Berger presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Joshua Hanks is prosecuting the case. On April 7, 2026, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division . The core mission of the Fraud Division is to zealously investigate and prosecute those who steal or fraudulently misuse taxpayer dollars. Department of Justice efforts to combat fraud support President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within federal benefit programs. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:26-cr-84. ###


title: Charleston Man Pleads Guilty to Escape After Absconding From Reentry Facility

body_text: CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Terrence Lowell Ramsey, 41, of Charleston, pleaded guilty today to escape. According to court documents and statements made in court, Ramsey was in the custody of the Federal Bureau of Prisons at the Dismas Charities Inc., a residential reentry facility in St. Albans, when he was authorized to spend the weekend with his wife at her residence beginning on April 10, 2026, and was required to return to the facility on April 12, 2026. Ramsey failed to return to the facility as required. Law enforcement officers arrested Ramsey on April 30, 2026, in Charleston after he fled from police on a bicycle and on foot. Ramsey was serving a sentence at Dismas Charities Inc. for violating the terms of supervised release imposed following his felony conviction for possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl and possession with intent to distribute a quantity of fentanyl in United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia. Ramsey is scheduled to be sentenced on January 13, 2027, and faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000. United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the United States Marshals Service, and the Charleston Police Department. United States District Judge Irene C. Berger presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Lesley C. Shamblin is prosecuting the case. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:26-cr-74. ###


title: Illegal alien sentenced for federal firearm possession following drug discovery

component: USAO - Texas, Southern

body_text: LAREDO, Texas – A 38-year-old illegal alien from Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas, Mexico, has been ordered to federal prison for being an illegal alien in possession of a firearm. Ivan Gerardo Castillo-Castro pleaded guilty Jan. 29. U.S. District Judge John Kazen ordered Castillo-Castro to serve 33 months in federal prison. As an illegal alien, he is expected to face removal proceedings following his imprisonment. At the hearing Sept. 1, the court heard additional evidence about Castillo-Castro’s criminal history, including prior convictions for assault and illegal reentry. The court also heard that while awaiting sentencing, Castillo-Castro participated in a gang-style assault on other inmates. In handing down the sentence, the court noted Castillo-Castro’s history of events to include where Castillo-Castro assaulted a domestic partner, a juvenile, and a police officer who attempted to place Castillo-Castro under arrest. On Aug. 3, 2025, during a search of the vehicle, law enforcement discovered 22 grams of cocaine and a digital scale. A subsequent search of Castillo-Castro’s residence revealed a TEC-DC9 semiautomatic firearm capable of accepting a large-capacity magazine, fraudulent legal documents, and copies of a Social Security card belonging to another person. Castillo-Castro further admitted to selling another firearm. As a convicted felon, he is prohibited from possessing firearms under federal law. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives conducted the investigation with the assistance of Laredo Police Department, U.S. Marshals Service, and The Geo Group. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tae W. Chon prosecuted the case. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigrants, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.


title: Firearm-wielding fentanyl dealer sentenced to over 100 months

body_text: LAREDO, Texas – A 40-year-old Laredo resident has been sentenced for conspiring to distribute fentanyl. Rolando Soliz pleaded guilty Sept. 16, 2025. U.S. District Judge John A. Kazen has now ordered Soliz to serve 110 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by four years of supervised release. At the hearing Sept. 1, the court heard additional evidence to include details about Soliz’s extensive criminal history as well as his possession of large amounts of cash and 10 different firearms, one of which was a short-barreled rifle converted to operate as a machine gun. In handing down the sentence, Judge Kazen noted his conviction was for distributing fentanyl during a time when it was killing more and more people in the community. He also noted his extensive criminal history including four prior felony convictions. The investigation, which began July 11, 2024, indicated Soliz had been engaged in multiple transactions involving fentanyl in the Laredo area. Law enforcement set up surveillance at Soliz’s apartment and witnessed multiple hand-to-hand drug transactions. A subsequent traffic stop resulted in the discovery of fentanyl that had been obtained from Soliz at his residence. On July 31, 2024, authorities executed a search warrant at Soliz’s apartment and discovered 24.8 grams of fentanyl inside a toilet bowl. They had also searched his mother’s residence. As a result of the warrants at both locations, law enforcement seized the drugs, over $16,000 in cash, and multiple firearms. Soliz has been and will remain in custody pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future. The Drug Enforcement Administration conducted the investigation with the assistance of Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; Webb County District Attorney’s Office; and Webb County Constables Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew P. Hakala-Finch prosecuted the case.


title: Former Executives Of “Pre-IPO” Investment Platform Charged In Connection With $450 Million Fraud Scheme

component: USAO - New York, Southern

body_text: Deputy United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Sean S. Buckley, and Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (the “FBI”), James C. Barnacle, Jr., announced today the unsealing of an Indictment charging WILLIAM SARRIS, the founder of Linqto Inc. (“Linqto”), a “pre-IPO” investment platform, with securities fraud, broker-dealer fraud, wire fraud, and conspiracy charges. SARRIS was arrested today and will be presented in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. SARRIS’s former second-in-command, JOSEPH ENDOSO, pled guilty to an Information before U.S. District Judge Denise L. Cote on August 27, 2026, in connection with his participation in the scheme at Linqto. ENDOSO is cooperating with the Government. “This Office is committed to pursuing those who would take advantage of the private markets—including the ‘pre-IPO’ market—to defraud ordinary investors,” said Deputy U.S. Attorney Sean S. Buckley. “William Sarris allegedly exploited the ‘pre-IPO’ market to boost his company’s revenue at the expense of tens of thousands of investors. In the private markets, which lack the pricing transparency of a public exchange, investors rely on the honesty of those offering access. The defendants allegedly lied about what the ‘market’ price was, fabricated scarcity to inflate prices, and imposed staggering markups that in some cases exceeded 200%.” “William Sarris’s alleged fraud scheme caused real financial harm to victims who trust our financial markets,” said FBI Assistant Director in Charge James C. Barnacle, Jr. “Protecting those investors is one of our top priorities, and we thank our partners in the Securities and Commodities Fraud Task Force for their critical support in bringing this case forward.” As alleged in the Indictment unsealed today in Manhattan federal court:(1) From 2020 through 2025, SARRIS engaged in a scheme to defraud the customers of Linqto, an online investment platform. SARRIS accomplished his scheme by exploiting the lack of visibility into the true price of the private securities in which customers invested. Linqto marketed itself as a way for ordinary investors to invest in private companies expected to eventually offer securities on a public exchange but whose stock, in the meantime, did not have readily identifiable prices. SARRIS abused his informational advantage over his customers: he manufactured false scarcity to drive up prices, he manipulated Linqto’s pricing model to maximize revenue while telling customers that they were buying at “market” prices, and he pushed markups far beyond what his own lawyers repeatedly warned him was lawful. SARRIS pursued this scheme because it stood to make him wealthy. He had a sizeable stake in Linqto and was hunting for a way to cash out. The markup scheme made it appear that Linqto was a successful and growing company, which was crucial to SARRIS’s ability to sell his equity position. To protect his scheme, SARRIS evaded regulatory regimes that would have forced disclosures and hampered his ability to charge the exorbitant markups fueling Linqto’s growth. And when Linqto’s finances came under pressure in January 2025, to help meet the company’s revenue targets, SARRIS sold shares allocated to customers’ holdings, without telling his customers. By mid-2025, Linqto collapsed into bankruptcy. By that time, the markup scheme had drawn in over $450 million from more than 13,000 customers. * * * SARRIS, 75, of Monterey, California, is charged with two counts of securities fraud, one count of broker-dealer fraud, and one count of wire fraud, each of which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, as well as one count of conspiracy to commit securities fraud and broker-dealer fraud, and one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States and to conduct unregistered investment company transactions, each of which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison. ENDOSO, 66, of Ross, California, pled guilty to one count of securities fraud and one count of broker-dealer fraud, each of which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, as well as one count of conspiracy to commit securities fraud and broker-dealer fraud, and one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States and to conduct unregistered investment company transactions, each of which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison. The maximum sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants will be determined by a judge. Mr. Buckley praised the outstanding work of the FBI. Mr. Buckley further thanked the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission for its assistance. This case is being handled by the Office’s Securities and Commodities Fraud Task Force. Assistant United States Attorneys Shiva H. Logarajah, Alexandra N. Rothman, and Samuel P. Rothschild are in charge of the prosecution. The charges contained in the Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. 26-250 ### ^ As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Indictment and the description of the Indictment set forth herein constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.


title: Pearl River Man Pleads Guilty to Embezzlement of Tribal Rental Program Funds

component: Department of Justice

body_text: Jackson, MS – On September 2, 2026, a Pearl River man pleaded guilty to embezzlement from an Indian tribal organization. According to court documents, Benjamin E. Stephens, 43, embezzled approximately $200,000 from the Choctaw Rental Housing Program while working as an employee of the Tribal program. Stephens was indicted by a federal grand jury in November of 2025. U.S. Attorney J.E. Baxter Kruger of the Southern District of Mississippi, and Robert Eikhoff, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Jackson Office, made the announcement. Stephens is scheduled to be sentenced in January of 2027 and faces a maximum penalty of not more than five years in prison. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The Choctaw Police Department and the FBI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kevin J. Payne, Brian K. Burns and Special Assistant United States Attorney Kalleigh McCoy prosecuted the case.


title: A Neshoba County Man Pleads Guilty to Failing to Register as a Sex Offender

body_text: Jackson, MS – On September 2, 2026, a Neshoba County man pleaded guilty to failing to register as a sex offender. According to court documents, in August of 2025, Jared Rahiem Cotton, 25, failed to register as a sex offender. Cotton was indicted by a federal grand jury in April of 2026. U.S. Attorney Baxter Kruger of the Southern District of Mississippi made the announcement. Cotton is scheduled to be sentenced in January of 2027 and faces a maximum penalty of not more than ten years in prison. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The Choctaw Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kevin J. Payne, Brian K. Burns and Special Assistant United States Attorney Kalleigh McCoy prosecuted the case.


title: Federal Immigration Enforcement by the Numbers: Eleven Illegal Aliens Sentenced to Federal Prison from March to August

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

body_text: SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF INDIANA- Eleven illegal immigrants, most convicted felons, have been sentenced after pleading guilty to illegal reentry in the Southern District of Indiana. The prosecutions, involving defendants arrested in Clay, Dubois, Hamilton, Hendricks, and Marion counties, stemmed from separate investigations. Each case was handled independently and concluded between March and August 2026. Defendant Sentence Prior Removals Prior Convictions Abemael Casanova-Martinez, 38, of Mexico Time Served December 2012 & May 2015 Illegal entry (x2) Gregorio Castro Carbajal, 45, of Mexico 15 months imprisonment 3 years supervised release April 2014 & September 2023 Driving under the influence of alcohol, resisting a public officer, use of a communication facility in facilitating the commission of felonies under the Controlled Substances Act, public intoxication Juan Carlos Cordova-Saravia, 56, of Mexico 14 months’ imprisonment 3 years of supervised release April 2010 & November 2019 Unlawful possession of a firearm by an alien illegally in the United States Nelson Javier Hernandez-Romero, 40, of Honduras Time Served 1 year of supervised release June 2023 Jorge Martinez -Guerrero, 51, of Mexico Time Served 1 year of supervised release January 1998, April 2006, May 2008, & April 2014 Negligent vehicular manslaughter Jesus Alberto Mota Limon, 33, of Mexico 3 years’ imprisonment 3 years of supervised release November 2013, January 2024, & May 2024 (x2) Possession of methamphetamine, intimidation, & illegal re-entry of a removed alien Juan Ignacio Padron-Salgado, 39, Mexico 1.5 years imprisonment 3 years supervised release July 2005 & May 2015 Attempted theft, criminal recklessness committed with a deadly weapon, & domestic battery in the presence of a child Isau Palencia-Martinez, 46, of El Salvador 1 year and 1 day imprisonment September 2001, October 2011, & October 2014 Illegal reentry Audel Trujillo Reyes, 59, of Mexico Time served 3 years supervised release March 2007, May 2009, March 2012, April 2012, August 2019, September 2019, December 2019, & April 2021 Illegal reentry Mario Edgardo Rivas-Hernandez, 60, of Honduras Time Served 6 months of supervised release March 2006 & March 2007 Dealing in cocaine Jose Francisco Rodriguez Escalera, 52, of Mexico Time Served June 2002, August 2009, September 2016, & November 2016 Hit and run, possession of cocaine (x2), diving without a valid license, & driving under the influence of alcohol (x2) In 2014, the El Salvadorian National Police identified Isau Palencia-Martinez as a member of Mara Salvatrucha, commonly known as MS-13. At the time the defendants entered their guilty pleas, they acknowledged that upon completion of their sentence, they will be subject to removal from the United States. Conditions of supervision require the defendants to surrender to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement upon release from federal custody. U.S. Attorney Wheeler thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Meredith Wood, Matthew Miller, MaryAnn Mindrum, Cristina Caraballo-Colon, Adam Eakman, Peter Blackett, and Zachary Yauger, who prosecuted these cases. “Violent criminal aliens who repeatedly violate our immigration laws and endanger our communities must face real consequences,” said Tom Wheeler, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “We are unleashing the full force of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of violent illegal aliens and ensure that those who threaten our security face swift and decisive justice.” ###


title: Previously Convicted Murderer Sentenced to 15-Year Maximum for New Federal Gun Crime

component: USAO - Illinois, Southern

body_text: EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. – Yesterday, a district court judge sentenced an East St. Louis man to 15 years of federal imprisonment for unlawful possession of a firearm. This was the maximum sentence allowable by law. Anthony D. Bradley, Jr., 37, was found guilty by a federal jury in May for possessing a firearm as a previously convicted felon. Bradley has several prior criminal convictions, including a state conviction for second degree murder and multiple state and federal charges involving illegal firearm possession. Bradley stipulated prior to trial that he was a convicted felon and that he knew he was a convicted felon at the time of the offense conduct. “This convicted murderer got out of state prison and carried a loaded gun, modified to function as a machine gun, through a public housing complex,” said U.S. Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft. “We did not plead this case out. We tried it, the jury spoke, and he got the maximum sentence in federal prison. As he should.” The evidence presented at trial revealed that in October 2024 Bradley was observed possessing a firearm by law enforcement officers during a proactive crime suppression detail that included the John De Shields housing complex in East St. Louis. The firearm was loaded with fourteen rounds of ammunition and had a machinegun conversion device installed. In October 2024, Bradley was under federal supervised release for a prior firearms offense. Following trial, Bradley entered a stipulation and consent to forfeit the firearm to the United States. “Because of the persistence of the Illinois State Police and our partners getting guns and dangerous criminals off the street, this convicted felon will spend years in a federal prison,” said Illinois State Police Director Brendan F. Kelly. “Convicted felons who repeatedly break the law threaten public safety and the Illinois State Police will continue to dedicate resources to protect our communities.” Following imprisonment, Bradley will serve three years of supervised release. The Illinois State Police led this investigation with assistance from its Public Safety Enforcement Group and Firearms Investigation Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kimberly Arshi and Ali Burns prosecuted the case. This case was brought as part of the Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) initiative, which is a 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: Mexican Man Charged with Smuggling Banned Pesticides

component: USAO - California, Southern

body_text: SAN DIEGO – Juan Velderrain Perez, a citizen of Mexico and resident of San Diego, appeared in federal court today to face charges that he smuggled unapproved pesticides into the United States. Velderrain Perez was apprehended at the Otay Mesa Port of Entry last month with 24 liters of dangerous Mexican-labeled pesticides concealed in his car. According to a complaint, which charges Velderrain Perez with the felony offense of smuggling merchandise, he failed to declare the chemicals at the border and then asked the Customs and Border Protection officer not to refer him to secondary because he knew he would get in trouble. Later, he admitted this was not the first time he had smuggled pesticides, and that he expected to be paid a smuggling fee when he delivered the product, the complaint said. The pesticides, labeled “Taktic,” contain the active ingredient amitraz at an emulsifiable concentration of 12.5 percent. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, in the United States, amitraz in this form is a cancelled and unregistered pesticide and has been banned since at least 2019. The handling of amitraz poses reproductive, developmental, and neurological risks, as well as potential long-term cancer risks from exposure to the chemical, which led to regulations and restrictions on its commercial use. Velderrain Perez is due in court on September 15, 2026, at 1:30 p.m. for a preliminary hearing before U.S. Magistrate Judge Valerie E. Torres. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of California and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency are members of the Department of Justice’s Trade Fraud Task Force, a cross-agency law enforcement effort that also involves the National Fraud Enforcement Division, the Criminal and Civil Divisions, the Energy and Natural Resources Division, the Department of Homeland Security, and U.S. Attorney’s Offices nationwide. The Task Force was created to leverage all of the Department’s tools and authorities to prevent trade fraud that deprives the government of vital revenue, threatens critical domestic industries, undermines consumer confidence, and weakens national security. The Task Force is designed to pursue enforcement actions against 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 alert the government to credible allegations of fraud, including utilizing the qui tam provisions of the False Claims Act or through the Criminal Division’s Corporate Whistleblower Program at CorporateWhistleblower@usdoj.gov using the form available here . This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily W. Allen from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of California. DEFENDANT Case No. 26-mj-5136-DDL Juan C. Valderrain Perez, Age: 43 San Diego, CA SUMMARY OF CHARGES Smuggling Merchandise – Title 18, U.S.C., Section 545 Maximum penalty: Twenty years in prison and $250,000 fine INVESTIGATING AGENCIES U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Homeland Security Investigations


title: Convictions through Guilty Pleas and Sentencings in Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) Prosecutions (August 24 through August 28, 2026)

body_text: SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Puerto Rico, Héctor Ramírez-Carbó, Acting United States Attorney, in conjunction with our partner agencies in the Homeland Security Task Force (“HSTF”) announce the following prosecutorial results for the week of August 24 through August 28, 2026. The HSTF is a permanent, interagency law enforcement task force created by executive order to combat transnational criminal organizations—including cartels, trafficking networks, and foreign terrorist organizations. Convictions through Guilty Pleas: On August 25, 2026, David A. Isaac-Febus, a.k.a. “Durant/Davicito,” pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking in Criminal Case 24-453 (MAJ). According to the indictment, the defendant was charged with participating in a drug trafficking organization that worked out of various public housing projects in the Carolina and San Juan municipalities, including the Sabana Abajo Public Housing Project. Defendant was arrested on December 13, 2024. The court set defendant’s sentencing date for December 8, 2026. AUSAs Laura Díaz González and Joseph Russell are in charge of the prosecution of the case. On August 26, 2026, Christopher Casiano-López pleaded guilty to Count One in Criminal Case number 25-272 (SCC). According to the indictment, the defendant was charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking crimes. Defendant was arrested on July 10, 2025. The court set defendant’s sentencing date for December 2, 2026. AUSAs Laura Díaz-González and Andrés Orr are in charge of the prosecution of the case. On August 26, 2026, José M. Nieves-Caraballo pleaded guilty to Counts One and Seven in Criminal Case number 25-272 (SCC). According to the indictment, the defendant was charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking crimes. Defendant was arrested on July 10, 2025. The court set defendant’s sentencing date for December 2, 2026. AUSAs Laura Díaz-González and Andrés Orr are in charge of the prosecution of the case. On August 27, 2026, Lázaro Escalera-Colón pleaded guilty to Counts One and Seven in Criminal Case number 25-272 (SCC). According to the indictment, the defendant was charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking crimes. Defendant was arrested on July 10, 2025. The court set defendant’s sentencing date for December 2, 2026. AUSAs Laura Díaz-González and Andrés Orr are in charge of the prosecution of the case. On August 28, 2026, Estephanie Torres-Bosa pleaded guilty to Count One in Criminal Case 25-306 (CVR). According to the indictment, the defendant was charged with conspiracy to possess 5 kilograms or more of cocaine with intent to distribute. Defendant was arrested on July 15, 2025. The court set defendant’s sentencing date for November 30, 2026. AUSA Antonio López is in charge of the prosecution of the case. On August 28, 2026, César Escalante-Lizarazo pleaded guilty to count one in Criminal Case 21-317 (PAD). According to the superseding indictment, the defendant was charged for conspiring to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine aboard a vessel subject to the jurisdiction of the United States. Defendant was arrested in Colombia and extradited on March 7, 2025. The court set defendant’s sentencing date for December 11, 2026. AUSA Camille García Jiménez is in charge of the prosecution of the case. Sentencings: On August 24, 2026, Carlos Jadriel Rivera-León, a.k.a. “Hulk/Carlitos Hulk,” was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Gina Méndez-Miró to 10 years of imprisonment to be followed by eight years of supervised release for participating in a drug trafficking organization that operated in and around the Manatí area, and principally out of the Enrique Zorilla Public Housing Project. According to court documents, defendant was indicted on September 20, 2023, in Criminal Case 23-353 (GMM), and pleaded guilty on May 11, 2026. AUSAs Joseph Russell and Andrés Orr are in charge of the prosecution of the case. On August 26, 2026, Jazhiel Ocasio-Herrera, a.k.a. “BV” was sentenced by United States District Court Judge María Angongiorgi-Jordán to 12 years of imprisonment to be followed by eight years of supervised release for his participation in a violent drug trafficking organization that worked out of various Public Housing Projects in the Carolina and San Juan areas, principally the Sabana Abajo Public Housing Project. According to court documents, defendant was indicted on December 5, 2024, in Criminal Case 24-453 (MAJ), and pleaded guilty on May 27, 2026. AUSAs Laura Díaz González and Joseph Russell are in charge of the prosecution of the case. On August 26, 2026, Yander C. Santos-Ramos, a.k.a. “Mingui,” was sentenced by United States District Court Judge María Angongiorgi-Jordán to 78 months of imprisonment to be followed by eight years of supervised release for his participation in a violent drug trafficking organization that worked out of various Public Housing Projects in the Carolina and San Juan areas, principally the Sabana Abajo Public Housing Project. According to court documents, defendant was indicted on December 5, 2024, in Criminal Case 24-453 (MAJ), and pleaded guilty on May 27, 2026. AUSAs Laura Díaz González and Joseph Russell are in charge of the prosecution of the case. On August 27, 2026, Keily Maisonet Ortiz was sentenced by United States District Court Judge María Antongiorgi Jordan to two years of probation for conspiracy to commit marriage fraud, and marriage fraud – aiding and abetting. According to the indictment, U.S. Citizen, Maisonet, knowingly combined, conspired, and agreed with an Uzbekistan national to enter into a marriage for the purpose of evading any provision of the immigration laws of the United States, and aided and abetted in doing so. Defendant was indicted on June 5, 2025, in Criminal Case 25-267 (MAJ) and pleaded guilty on May 28, 2026. AUSA Emelina Agrait is in charge of the prosecution of the case. On August 28, 2026, Manuel O. Robles Osorio, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Pedro A. Delgado to 87 months of imprisonment for possession with intent to distribute controlled substances and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. According to court documents, defendant was indicted on July 20, 2022, in Criminal Case 22-327 (PAD) and pleaded guilty on June 5, 2026. AUSA Corinne Cordero is in charge of the prosecution of the case. These prosecutions are part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF San Juan comprises agents and officers from the following federal partners: FBI, ICE-HSI, CBP (OFO, AMO and Border Patrol), the U.S. Marshals Service for Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, DEA, ATF, IRS, U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Department of State, and the U.S. Secret Service, the Puerto Rico/U.S. Virgin Islands HIDTA, TSA, FAA, and the U.S. Attorney’s Offices for the Districts of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The HSTF also has the following state and local law enforcement partners as participating agencies: the Puerto Rico Police Department; the San Juan, Carolina, Guaynabo, Barceloneta, and Ponce Municipal Police Departments, the Puerto Rico National Guard – Counter Drug Program; the Puerto Rico Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation; the Puerto Rico Internal Revenue Service (Hacienda); the Puerto Rico Port Authority; and the Virgin Islands Police Department. ###


title: Illegal Alien from Mexico Sentenced for Immigration Violation

component: USAO - Oregon

body_text: PORTLAND, Ore.— A Mexican National, illegally inside the United States, was sentenced to federal prison today for immigration crimes. Claudia Susana Vargas-Rosas, 39, pled guilty to illegally reentering the United States and was sentenced to 8 months in federal prison and 1 year of supervised release, announced U.S. Attorney Scott E. Bradford for the District of Oregon. According to court documents, Vargas-Rosas was deported in 2018 after serving her sentence in state prison for striking a dependent child with a meat tenderizer. On September 7, 2023, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents learned that Vargas-Rosas had been arrested and charged with driving under the influence in Washington County, Oregon. Vargas-Rosas’s criminal history includes prior state convictions for Assault IV, possession of a stolen vehicle, and possession of a controlled substance. She has also been arrested for multiple probation violations. On April 21, 2026, Vargas-Rosas was charged with illegally reentering the United States. Vargas-Rosas made her initial appearance on May 5, 2026, and was detained. This case was investigated by Immigration and Customs Enforcement.


title: Nevada Man Sentenced to Prison for False Tax Return Schemes

component: USAO - Nevada

body_text: LAS VEGAS — A Nevada tax preparer was sentenced today to 60 months in prison for operating two false tax return schemes. “Michael Moore lied to his clients and lied to the IRS all while lining his own pockets,” said Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald of the Justice Department’s National Fraud Enforcement Division. “To conceal his involvement in his criminal conduct, Mr. Moore impermissibly used a former employee’s identity to file fraudulent returns. Return preparers like Mr. Moore who abuse their clients’ trust and undermine the integrity of the internal revenue laws will continue to be brought to justice by the Fraud Division’s Tax Section, our U.S. Attorneys, and our law enforcement partners like IRS-CI.” “Today’s sentence sends a clear message that those who manufacture fake wage records for personal enrichment will face severe federal prison time,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada. “Moore’s schemes were designed to cheat the tax system while shifting the resulting burden onto law abiding taxpayers,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge David Lowe of the IRS Criminal Investigation San Francisco Field Office. “Today’s sentence underscores that IRS-CI will aggressively pursue those who exploit the tax system for personal gain, and it should serve as a reminder that financial crimes carry serious consequences.” According to court documents and statements made in court, from 2015 through 2025, Michael J. Moore, of Las Vegas, was a former CPA who operated a tax preparation, bookkeeping and accounting business that advertised itself as specializing in clients from the adult entertainment industry. Moore promoted a fraudulent tax avoidance scheme called the “Special Tax Shelter Strategy.” As part of the scheme, Moore promised clients that in exchange for a fee he could prepare a tax return that eliminated the taxes they owed to the IRS and, in most cases, create a large tax refund. The fees Moore required as part of this “Special Tax Shelter Strategy” were paid by the clients using the refund money received from the IRS. In many instances, clients were required to pay tens of thousands of dollars in fees. To carry out the “Special Tax Shelter Strategy,” Moore made up false and fraudulent entries on the clients’ tax returns. In many cases, he did this by including on the returns false business expenses frequently amounting to hundreds of thousands of dollars in losses. In some instances, Moore prepared and filed the tax returns using a former employee’s name and personal identifying information without their permission or knowledge. After he had been charged for his role in the “Special Tax Shelter Strategy,” Moore engaged in a separate scheme involving preparation of false returns for clients. As part of this second scheme, Moore again reported totally false items on client tax returns. In the second scheme, Moore typically reported false losses from one or more corporate entities, most of which were defunct, dormant or carried on no business. These reported losses were false because the clients had not incurred these expenses. In total, Moore caused a tax loss to the IRS of more than $3.5 million. Moore pleaded guilty to one count each of tax evasion, helping a client file a false tax return, wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. IRS Criminal Investigation San Francisco Field Office investigated the case. Trial Attorney Patrick Burns of the National Fraud Enforcement Division’s Tax Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Tony Lopez for the District of Nevada prosecuted the case. On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the Fraud Division. The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs. ###