title: California Man Involved in Danbury Kidnapping and Bitcoin Robbery Scheme Sentenced to 15 Years in Federal Prison

component: USAO - California, Central

body_text: David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that ADAM IZA, 26, of California, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Sarala V. Nagala in Hartford to 180 months of imprisonment and three years of supervised release for his involvement in an attempted robbery of Bitcoin and a kidnapping in Danbury in August 2024. According to court documents and statements made in court, on August 25, 2024, Danbury Police arrested six Florida men who were involved in a violent carjacking of a Lamborghini Urus and the kidnapping of two occupants of the vehicle on that date. The investigation revealed that the kidnapping victims are the parents of an individual who participated in the theft of hundreds of millions of dollars in Bitcoin. In an attempt to steal some of that Bitcoin, Iza and others planned and coordinated the attempted robbery and ultimately the kidnapping. Iza’s alleged co-coconspirator, who had an altercation with the victims’ son in a Miami nightclub in July 2024, was in regular communication with certain of the kidnappers in the days before the crime, provided funding for it, and helped arrange the participants’ transportation and lodging. Iza communicated via cellphone and encrypted messaging applications with certain of the kidnappers, directed them as to the logistics of the scheme, and also provided funding. Iza has been detained since September 24, 2024, after he was charged in the Central District of California with unrelated federal offenses . On June 1, 2026, he pleaded guilty in the District of Connecticut to conspiracy to interfere with commerce by robbery (“Hobbs Act Robbery”). Iza’s brother, Saif Faiq , pleaded guilty to the same offense and awaits sentencing. Six individuals who carried out the carjacking and kidnapping have also pleaded guilty. Other alleged co-conspirators are awaiting trial. This matter is being investigated by the FBI New Haven Violent Crimes Task Force, FBI Los Angeles, FBI St. Louis, and the Danbury Police Department. The FBI Task Force includes members from the Connecticut State Police and several local police departments. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen L. Peck. U.S. Attorney Sullivan thanked the U.S. Attorney’s Offices for the Central District of California, the Eastern District of Missouri, the District of Columbia, and the District of New Jersey, and the State’s Attorney’s Office for the Judicial District of Danbury, for their assistance in the investigation and prosecution of this matter.


title: Orange County Man Sentenced to 30 Years in Federal Prison for Orchestrating Massive Health Care Fraud that Submitted Nearly $270 Million in Bogus Claims

body_text: LOS ANGELES – An Orange County man was sentenced today to 360 months in federal prison for masterminding a massive health care fraud scheme in which nearly $270 million in fraudulent claims were submitted to Medi-Cal over an 11-month span for expensive prescription drugs containing generic ingredients that were not medically necessary and, many times, were not provided to the purported recipients. Paul Richard Randall, 67, of Orange, was sentenced by United States District Judge Mark C. Scarsi, who also ordered him to pay $178,746,556 in restitution. Randall pleaded guilty on April 7 to one count of wire fraud committed while on release. “This defendant took advantage of California’s weak systems allowing him to submit $270 million in fraudulent claims to Medi-Cal in less than a year,” said First Assistant United States Attorney Bill Essayli. “Today’s prison sentence underscore’s our department’s determination to aggressively punish criminals who steal from public health programs.” “Paul Randall exploited a temporary change in Medi-Cal’s prescription drug reimbursement system to steal hundreds of millions of hard-earned taxpayer dollars meant to help California’s neediest residents,” said Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald of the National Fraud Enforcement Division. “Today’s sentence sends a clear message to those who would abuse our public benefit programs to line their own pockets: The Fraud Division will aggressively prosecute you and seek to hold you accountable to the fullest extent permissible under the law.” “This case exposes unbridled greed at the expense of patients and taxpayers,” aid Acting Deputy Inspector General for Investigations Miranda L. Bennett at the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “Stealing funds meant for essential care and corrupting medical decisions through kickbacks is deeply harmful and erodes trust in our health care system. HHS-OIG, together with our law enforcement partners, will continue to pursue those who exploit federal health care programs and ensure they are held fully accountable.” “The amount of money Paul Randall stole from California taxpayers through his fraud scheme is staggering,” said Patrick Grandy, the Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office. “By exploiting a loophole in the Medi-Cal system, he was able to bill nearly $270 million dollars, then launder it to evade detection and pay kickbacks to his co-schemers. Today’s sentencing sends a strong message to anyone considering defrauding health care benefit programs that the federal government is actively seeking fraudulent claims and will pursue prosecution.” Randall, along with Kyrollos Mekail, 38, of Moreno Valley, and Patricia Anderson, 59, of West Hills, took advantage of Medi-Cal’s suspension of its requirement that health care providers obtain prior authorization before providing certain health care services or medications as a condition of reimbursement. The suspension of the prior authorization requirements was part of an ongoing transition of Medi-Cal’s prescription drug program to a new payment system. Medi-Cal is California’s Medicaid program, a public health insurance program which provides health care services for the state’s neediest residents, including low-income individuals, persons with disabilities, and individuals in foster care. Through a business called Monte Vista Pharmacy, Randall and his co-schemers exploited Medi-Cal’s prior authorization suspension by billing Medi-Cal tens of millions of dollars per month for dispensing high-reimbursement, non-contracted, generic drugs through Monte Vista Pharmacy. Some prescription medications purportedly were to treat pain and included Folite tablets, a vitamin available over the counter. Normally, these high-cost reimbursement medications would have required prior authorization under Medi-Cal’s old payment system. Medication involved in this scheme was medically unnecessary, frequently was not dispensed to patients, and procured by kickbacks. From May 2022 to April 2023, Monte Vista billed Medi-Cal more than $269 million and was paid more than $178 million for 19 expensive, non-contracted drugs containing low-cost, generic ingredients that were not medically necessary, not provided, or both. Randall also admitted that he committed the offense while on release in another criminal tax case in the Central District of California ( USA v. Paul Richard Randall, No. 20cr31). Randall and others then laundered their illicit proceeds by transferring the proceeds of the Medi-Cal fraud scheme to a third party to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars in kickbacks to Anderson, to promote the fraud scheme and to conceal and disguise the transfers from detection by law enforcement. Randall caused the wiring of at least approximately $269,120,829 in false and fraudulent claims to Medi-Cal for purportedly dispensing the fraud scheme medications that Anderson prescribed, on which Medi-Cal paid at least approximately $178,746,556. Randall started this fraud scheme while awaiting sentencing in another federal criminal case. In his plea agreement, Randall agreed to forfeit property obtained from the fraud, including bank account balances exceeding $17 million, three vehicles, seven properties, and sports memorabilia, such as Mickey Mantle and Jackie Robinson baseball cards worth hundreds of thousands of dollars and Kobe Bryant game worn and signed sneakers. Mekail pleaded guilty in August 2024 to two counts of health care fraud and awaits sentencing. Anderson is charged with two counts of health care fraud, and the criminal case against her is still pending. A criminal complaint was filed against Christina Mareik, a.k.a. “Christina Marie Sanchez Hernandez”, charging her with health care fraud and alleging that she played a key role in the Medi-Cal fraud scheme by creating fraudulent prescriptions for Medi-Cal beneficiaries and directing Anderson to sign them. The case against Hernandez is still pending. The United States Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG), the FBI, and the California Department of Justice investigated this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Roger A. Hsieh of the Major Frauds Section and Trial Attorney Siobhan M. Namazi of the U.S. Department of Justice, Fraud Enforcement Division, are prosecuting this case. Assistant United States Attorney James E. Dochterman of the Asset Forfeiture and Recovery Section is handling asset forfeiture matters in this case. On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (“Fraud Division”). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within federal benefit programs. The Department of Justice’s Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program, currently comprised of nine strike forces operating in federal districts across the country, has charged more than 6,200 defendants who collectively billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $45 billion since 2007. In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with the Office of the Inspector General for the Department of Health and Human Services, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit . More information can be found at https://www.justice.gov/fraud .


title: Justice Department Notifies Los Angeles County of Investigation into Whether Conditions at Downtown L.A. Jail Violate Constitution

body_text: LOS ANGELES – The United States Department of Justice today sent a letter to Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert G. Luna to notify him and the County of Los Angeles that it is beginning an investigation into whether the County has violated the Constitution and federal law by failing to provide environmentally safe, humane, and habitable conditions for prisoners incarcerated at the Men’s Central Jail (MCJ) in downtown Los Angeles. During this investigation, which will focus on the conditions of the facility itself and not the actions of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department deputies who staff it, the Justice Department will determine whether the County has violated the Eighth and Fourteenth Amendments to the Constitution. The investigation will be conducted under the Civil Rights of Institutionalized Personals Act (CRIPA), a federal statute intended to protect the rights of people incarcerated in state or local correctional facilities, among other state and locally run institutions. “Whether a person is held in a county jail, awaiting trial, or after conviction, the environmental conditions in that jail need to meet constitutional standards,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon. “The Civil Rights Division is pleased to partner with the United States Attorney’s Office in its investigation of Los Angeles County’s Men’s Central Jail to determine whether the County meets those constitutional conditions.” “Los Angeles County has a constitutional duty to provide safe, humane, and habitable conditions at Men’s Central Jail,” said First Assistant United States Attorney Bill Essayli. “We have reached no conclusions, but these concerns warrant a thorough investigation. If the evidence reveals systemic violations, we will act.” The Justice Department has not reached any conclusion regarding allegations in this matter. This new investigation is separate from a 2015 settlement in United States v. County of Los Angeles , (C.D. Cal., 15cv5903), which was related to mental health care provided at Los Angeles County jails. Individuals with relevant information are encouraged to contact the Department via civilrights.justice.gov/report . Assistant United States Attorney Julie A. Hamill of the Civil Division’s Civil Rights Section is handling this matter.


title: Former Tax Startup CEO Federally Charged with Conning Venture Capital Funds Out of More Than $13 Million

body_text: LOS ANGELES – An Inglewood woman has been arrested on a 15-count federal grand jury indictment charging her with defrauding venture capital funds out of more than $13 million by lying about her credentials and her now-defunct tax compliance startup company’s revenue, then using investors’ money to purchase a home, a Tesla, and pay for her wedding in the Caribbean, the Justice Department announced today. Shiloh Luckey, 42, a.k.a. “Shiloh Johnson,” was arrested on Sunday in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, before she attempted to board a cruise ship for a vacation. Luckey was released on bond in the Southern District of Florida and is expected to appear in United States District Court in downtown Los Angeles in the coming weeks. Luckey is charged with nine counts of securities fraud, three counts of wire fraud, one count of bank fraud, and two counts of money laundering. According to the indictment returned on September 1, Luckey founded the Los Angeles-based ComplYant App Inc. in 2019 and presented it as a tax compliance startup company that offered services to small businesses to help them navigate complex tax regulations in exchange for a monthly subscription fee. Luckey was ComplYant’s CEO and exerted managerial control over the company. From September 2020 to September 2023, Luckey defrauded investors by promoting ComplYant as having existing customers and a significant recurring revenue stream. As part of the alleged scheme, Luckey persuaded victims to invest in the company by presenting them with pitch decks, investor materials, and updates that falsely inflated ComplYant’s revenue, customer base, subscriptions, and cash reserve balances. Luckey also induced victims to invest by lying to them and representing that she was a licensed certified public accountant (CPA) with deep expertise in tax management, accounting, and compliance, when, in fact, she has never been a licensed CPA. Relying on these false statements, pretenses, and misrepresentations, victims invested millions of dollars into ComplYant under the belief it was a promising start-up based on Luckey’s representations. Luckey then used a portion of these funds to pay for personal expenses, including the purchase of her residence, the purchase of a Tesla automobile, and to pay her wedding on the Caribbean island of Anguilla. By September 2023, ComplYant experienced severe liquidity issues and ceased operations, causing the investors to lose their investments. In total, Luckey fraudulently obtained at least $13.3 million from her victims, with the victims losing their entire investments. The indictment further alleges that, in September and October of 2022, Luckey engaged in a check kiting scheme to purchase her Inglewood home by intentionally writing a bad $1.5 million check from a ComplYant account with insufficient funds, depositing it into another ComplYant account at a different bank, and wiring the money to buy her home before the first bank realized the check was worthless. Luckey then paid off the negative balance caused by her check kiting scheme by repaying the negative bank account balance with fresh proceeds from her securities fraud. An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. If convicted of all charges, Luckey would face a statutory maximum sentence of 30 years in federal prison on the bank fraud count, up to 20 years in federal prison for each securities fraud and wire fraud count, and a statutory maximum sentence of 10 years in federal prison for each money laundering count. The FBI is investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Andrew M. Roach of the Major Frauds Section is prosecuting this case.


title: Tonto Basin Resident Charged with Transporting a Minor for Criminal Sexual Activity

component: USAO - Arizona

body_text: PHOENIX, Ariz. – A federal grand jury in Phoenix yesterday returned an indictment against Brian Matthew Griffeth, 48, of Tonto Basin, Arizona, for Transporting a Minor with Intent that the Minor Engage in Criminal Sexual Activity. The indictment alleges that between December 2023 and July 3, 2026, Griffeth transported a minor between Arizona and Florida with the intent that the minor engage in criminal sexual activity, including production of child pornography. According to the previously filed criminal complaint, the FBI opened an investigation in November 2025 into Griffeth’s purported sexual abuse of the minor. Through the investigation, law enforcement learned that Griffeth had allegedly committed sexual acts with the minor when they were 13 and living in Arizona, and continued that abuse until the minor was 16, sometimes recording the interactions. During that time, Griffeth moved with his family and the minor to Florida. A conviction for Transportation of a Minor for Criminal Sexual Activity carries a minimum penalty of 10 years, and a maximum penalty of life, a maximum of $250,000 fine, and a maximum term of supervised release of life. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. The initiative is led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices throughout the country and marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit justice.gov/PSC. The FBI’s Phoenix Division conducted the investigation, with assistance from the FBI’s Jacksonville office and the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office. The United States Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Phoenix, is handling the prosecution. Indictments and criminal complaints are formal accusations of criminal conduct. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. CASE NUMBER: 26-MJ-04268-PCT-CDB; 26-CR-01063-PHX-SPL RELEASE NUMBER: 2026-154_Griffeth # # # For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/ Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.


title: HSTF Investigation Leads to Rio Rico Man Being Sentenced to 60 Months in Prison for Drug and Money Laundering Conspiracies

body_text: TUCSON, Ariz. – Hugo Jesus Munoz, 34, of Rio Rico, Arizona, was sentenced last week by United States District Judge Rosemary Márquez to 60 months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release. Munoz previously pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine and Fentanyl and Conspiracy to Launder Monetary Instruments. As part of the drug conspiracy, Munoz distributed 4 kilograms of fentanyl and 3.5 kilograms of methamphetamine using the U.S. Postal Service. As part of the money laundering conspiracy, Munoz had $105,000 in drug proceeds deposited into his personal and business bank accounts from his drug distribution customers. This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. This HSTF Arizona investigation involved agents and officers from the Drug Enforcement Administration in Detroit, Michigan and Tucson, Arizona, Homeland Security Investigations, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, United States Marshals Service, Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation, ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations, United States Customs and Border Protection, United States Border Patrol, United States Postal Inspection Service, United States Secret Service, and the Bureau of Land Management. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Petermann, District of Arizona, Tucson, handled the prosecution. CASE NUMBER: 23-CR-2465-TUC-RM RELEASE NUMBER: 2026-155_Munoz # # # For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/ Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.


title: Maryland Woman Sentenced to Prison for $1.1M Tax Refund Fraud

component: National Fraud Enforcement Division

body_text: A Maryland woman was sentenced today to 12 months and one day in prison for attempting to steal more than $1.1 million from the IRS by filing false tax returns. According to court documents and statements made in court, between December 2019 and March 2020, Kendra Scarborough, of Oxon Hill, filed three false tax returns in the names of purported trusts that she controlled. In total, these tax returns sought more than $1.1 million in refunds that the trusts were not entitled to receive. Scarborough’s scheme resulted in the IRS issuing a refund of $412,000 to one of the purported trusts. Scarborough used these funds to pay for, among other things, the mortgage on her personal residence and other creditors. Scarborough pleaded guilty to one count of theft of government funds. In addition to the term of imprisonment, U.S. District Judge Debrorah L. Boardman ordered Scarborough to pay $410,117.44 in restitution to the IRS and forfeit to the government the proceeds from the tax refund that remain in her bank account. IRS Criminal Investigation investigated the case. Trial Attorney Melissa Siskind of the Fraud Division’s Tax Section prosecuted the case. On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (Fraud Division). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste and abuse within Federal benefit programs.


title: Justice Department to Conduct Election Monitoring in Rhode Island Primary Election

component: Civil Rights Division

body_text: The Department of Justice — through its Civil Rights Division and the U.S. Attorney’s Office (USAO) for the District of Rhode Island — will be observing polling locations today in Pawtucket, Rhode Island as part of its mission to secure ballot integrity, maintain transparency into the voting process, and enforce compliance with federal law. “This is our last stop on what has been a successful midterm primary monitoring effort,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “I am proud to say we have visited eleven states and hundreds of polling locations. We will continue this work through the midterm general elections to assure the American public of the fairness and security of the voting process.” “The Rhode Island United States Attorney’s Office is proud to continue its partnership with the Civil Rights Division and coordination between the federal and local levels to ensure that elections are held in compliance with all laws,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles C. Calenda for the District of Rhode Island. The Department will be sending four members from the Civil Rights Division’s Voting Section and the Rhode Island USAO to various polling sites throughout the city. On July 30, 2024, the Department secured a Consent Decree ensuring that the City of Pawtucket would meet its obligations under Section 203 of the Voting Rights Act and Section 302 of the Help America Vote Act. United States v. City of Pawtucket et al. , Case No. 24-cv-209 (D.R.I. 2024). Pursuant to this Consent Decree, the Department is authorized to observe election procedures. The Civil Rights Division’s Voting Section enforces various federal statutes that protect the right to vote, including the Voting Rights Act, National Voter Registration Act, Help America Vote Act, Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and the Civil Rights Acts. From now and up to Election Day on Nov. 3, Civil Rights Division personnel will be available to receive questions and complaints from the public related to possible violations of federal voting rights laws through the Civil Rights Division’s website at civilrights.justice.gov or by telephone at 1-800-253-3931. If you would like to request election monitoring in a particular jurisdiction, please contact the Voting Section at VEM@usdoj.gov, and the Civil Rights Division will determine whether monitoring is warranted.


title: Joint Investigation by the U.S. Justice Department and U.S. Department of Education Finds U.C. Berkeley Law School Discriminates Based on Race in Admissions

component: Civil Division

body_text: The U.S. Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division (DOJ) and the U.S. Department of Education (ED) announced today joint investigative findings that the University of California, Berkeley School of Law (Berkeley Law) deliberately discriminates against white and Asian students in its admissions process. Berkeley Law’s discriminatory conduct violates Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of race or color, and the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2023 decision in Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard ( SFFA ), which banned race discrimination in higher education. “Berkeley Law School’s deliberate efforts to circumvent the Supreme Court’s decision in SFFA demonstrate a complete disregard for the rule of law,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The Department will continue to aggressively pursue compliance from schools who attempt to racially manipulate their student bodies in violation of federal law.” “Title VI is clear: no student should be advantaged or disadvantaged in admissions because of the color of their skin,” said U.S. Department of Education Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Kimberly Richey. “The Supreme Court made equally clear that universities cannot evade the law by finding new ways to make race a factor in admissions decisions. Today’s findings demonstrate that the Trump Administration will work to hold institutions accountable and ensure students are judged on their individual merit, not their race.” The Department’s investigation found that post- SFFA , Berkeley Law uses race, essay prompts, and other tactics to further its admissions diversity goals. For instance, Berkeley’s application asked applicants to specify their racial identity, so that admitted students could be “grouped” with others of the same “primary identity” in class. In other words, Berkeley Law intentionally separates admitted students by race. The data produced by Berkeley Law demonstrates a strong bias against Asian and white applicants, with a corresponding bias in favor of black applicants. In 2024 and 2025 (combined), half of Berkeley Law’s admitted black applicants had LSAT scores that were below 95% of the admitted white applicants. Worse, more than one-third of admitted black applicants (37%) had LSAT scores below 99% of admitted white applicants. The Department’s analysis further revealed that in 2025, black applicants had 5.8 times higher odds of admission than comparable white applicants. As recipients of federal financial assistance, law schools are subject to federal non-discrimination laws. The Department will continue to investigate their compliance with Title VI, as interpreted by SFFA ’s prohibition on race-conscious admissions. Where a violation has been found, the Department will engage in settlement negotiations to ensure the school’s admissions practices are brought into compliance. If those efforts fail, the Department will file suit. Members of the public may report possible civil rights violations at www.civilrights.justice.gov/ . Note : Read the Department’s Findings Letter here .


title: California Man Sentenced to 30 Years for Orchestrating $270M Medication Reimbursement Fraud Scheme Targeting Medi-Cal

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: A California man was sentenced today to 30 years in federal prison for masterminding a massive health care fraud scheme in which nearly $270 million in fraudulent claims were submitted over an 11-month span to Medi-Cal, the California Medicaid program, for expensive prescription drugs containing generic ingredients that were medically unnecessary and, many times, were not provided to the purported recipients. The sentence marks one of the highest health care fraud sentences in the Central District of California’s history. Paul Richard Randall, 67, of Orange, California, was also ordered to pay $178,746,556.22 in restitution. “Paul Randall exploited a temporary change in Medi-Cal’s prescription drug reimbursement system to steal millions of hard-earned taxpayer dollars meant to help California’s most vulnerable residents,” said Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald of the National Fraud Enforcement Division. “Today’s sentence sends a clear message to those who would abuse our public benefit programs to line their own pockets: The Fraud Division will aggressively prosecute you and seek to hold you accountable to the fullest extent under the law.” “This case exposes unbridled greed at the expense of patients and taxpayers. Stealing funds meant for essential care and corrupting medical decisions through kickbacks is deeply harmful and erodes trust in our health care system,” said Acting Deputy Inspector General for Investigations Miranda L. Bennett of the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “HHS-OIG, together with our law enforcement partners, will continue to pursue those who exploit federal health care programs and ensure they are held fully accountable.” “This defendant took advantage of California’s weak systems allowing him to submit $270 million in fraudulent claims to Medi-Cal in less than a year,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli of the Central District of California. “Today’s prison sentence underscore’s our department’s determination to aggressively punish criminals who steal from public health programs.” According to court documents, Randall, along with pharmacist and pharmacy owner Kyrollos Mekail, 38, of Moreno Valley, California, and nurse practitioner Patricia Anderson, 59, of West Hills, California, took advantage of Medi-Cal’s suspension of its requirement that health care providers obtain prior authorization before providing certain h medications as a condition of reimbursement. The suspension of the prior authorization requirement was part of an ongoing transition of Medi-Cal’s prescription drug program to a new payment system. Through a business called Monte Vista Pharmacy (Monte Vista), Randall and his co-conspirators exploited Medi-Cal’s prior authorization suspension by billing Medi-Cal tens of millions of dollars per month for dispensing high-reimbursing, non-contracted generic drugs through Monte Vista. The medications, which included pain creams and Folite tablets, a vitamin available over the counter, were billed for thousands of dollars each, including approximately $13,424 for one prescription of meloxicam 5 mg, a generic drug that typically costs between $5 and $25 for a 30-day supply in larger dosages. Normally, these high-cost reimbursement medications would have required prior authorization under Medi-Cal’s previous payment system. Medication involved in this scheme was medically unnecessary, frequently not dispensed to patients, and procured by illegal kickbacks. In furtherance of the scheme, Randall paid illegal kickbacks to patient marketers in exchange for Medi-Cal beneficiary information and to Anderson to sign pre-filled prescriptions for the medications. Anderson never met the patients, reviewed their medical records, or otherwise determined that the medications were medically necessary before signing the prescriptions. From May 2022 to April 2023, Randall caused at least $269,120,829 in false and fraudulent claims to be submitted to Medi-Cal, of which Medi-Cal paid at approximately $178,746,556. Randall committed this offense while on release in another criminal tax case in the Central District of California ( United States v. Paul Richard Randall , No. CR 20-00031-GW). Randall and his co-conspirators laundered their illicit proceeds by transferring them to a third party to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars in illegal kickbacks to Anderson in exchange for Anderson signing the fraudulent prescriptions. In April 2026, Randall pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud. In his plea agreement, Randall agreed to forfeit property obtained from the fraud, including bank account balances exceeding $17 million, three vehicles, seven real properties, and sports memorabilia. To date, the government has seized approximately $126.5 million in assets that Randall and his co-conspirators accumulated from the scheme, including $111 million in bank funds and securities, nine luxury vehicles totaling approximately $1 million, nine luxury real properties totaling approximately $13.5 million, and more than $1 million worth of sports memorabilia. FBI, HHS-OIG, and the California Department of Justice investigated the case. Trial Attorney Siobhan M. Namazi of the Fraud Division’s Health Care Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Roger A. Hsieh for the Central District of California prosecuted the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney James E. Dochterman for the Central District of California’s Asset Forfeiture and Recovery Section is handling asset forfeiture matters in this case. On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division. The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs . The Department of Justice’s Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program, currently comprised of nine strike forces operating in federal districts across the country, has charged more than 6,200 defendants who collectively billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $45 billion since 2007. In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with the Office of the Inspector General for the Department of Health and Human Services, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit . More information can be found at www.justice.gov/fraud .


title: Del Rio Felon Sentenced to 15 Years in Federal Prison for Firearm Possession

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

body_text: DEL RIO, Texas – A Del Rio felon was sentenced to 180 months in federal prison for felon in possession of a firearm, announced U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons for the Western District of Texas. According to court documents, in July 2022, Texas Department of Public Safety Criminal Investigation Division special agents conducted a traffic stop on Alfredo Martinez Jr., 42, and located a firearm in the vehicle, which he denied owning. In November 2022, the Texas Department of Public Safety executed a state search warrant on Martinez’s residence. During the search, agents found a .357 revolver and two shotguns. Martinez again denied ownership of the firearms, claiming that two individuals had left items at his house that could not fit in their vehicle and that, despite being a convicted felon, he agreed to store their things. Further investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives determined that one of the shotguns found in the search of Martinez’s residence had been stolen. On Jan. 11, 2023, a federal grand jury indicted Martinez for two counts of felon in possession of a firearm. On Jan. 26, 2023, a Val Verde Sheriff’s Office deputy conducted a traffic stop on Martinez. The deputy notified an ATF special agent, who arrived on scene and located a loaded MP-25 pistol along with an additional loaded magazine inside Martinez’s vehicle. Martinez was arrested for the charges from the Jan. 11, 2023, indictment. A search warrant was executed on Martinez’s residence, resulting in the recovery of two more firearms and assorted ammunition. Martinez pleaded guilty on July 10, 2023, to one count of felon in possession of a firearm. Last week, Chief U.S. District Judge Alia Moses sentenced Martinez to the statutory maximum. The ATF and TX DPS CID investigated the case with assistance from the Val Verde Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ashley Ellis-Dotson and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Allyson Breech 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: Two Dominican Republic Men Each Sentenced to Two Years in Prison for Roles in Grandparent Fraud Scheme

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Western

body_text: PITTSBURGH, Pa. – Two Dominican Republic residents illegally living in the United States each have been sentenced in federal court to two years of imprisonment, to be followed by three years of supervised release, on their convictions for money laundering conspiracy, United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today. Senior United States District Judge Nora Barry Fischer imposed the sentences on Luis Alfonso Bisono Rodriguez, 35, and Engels Guillermo Almengot Valerio, 26. Rodriguez had been living in Cleveland, Ohio, and Valerio in Paterson, New Jersey. According to information presented to the Court, Rodriguez and Valerio participated in a conspiracy in which they laundered proceeds obtained from a sophisticated grandparent fraud scheme operating out of the Dominican Republic. The scammers contacted elderly victims impersonating a grandchild or other close relative in a crisis and seeking immediate financial assistance. The scammers then arranged for rideshare drivers to pick up cash from the grandparents and deliver the money to a member of the organized crime group, with both Rodriguez and Valerio having received cash directly from drivers. Portions of the money were deposited into bank accounts and other portions were sent via money transfers back to the Dominican Republic. Valerio also ordered the rides used to pick up the cash, including some rides that delivered fraud proceeds to Rodriguez. Assistant United States Attorney Brendan T. Conway prosecuted this case on behalf of the government. United States Attorney Rivetti commended the Federal Bureau of Investigation, which worked with many law enforcement departments throughout the United States, for the investigation leading to the successful prosecutions of Rodriguez and Valerio.


title: Former Foundation IT Manager Sentenced to Prison for Embezzling Nearly $1 Million from Employer

body_text: PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced in federal court to 12 months and one day of imprisonment on his conviction of wire fraud, United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today. United States District Judge Christy Criswell Wiegand imposed the sentence on Charles A. Richardson, 45. According to information presented to the Court, Richardson was employed as an information technology professional with the Pittsburgh-based philanthropic foundation The Heinz Endowments. Between 2016 and 2024, Richardson embezzled nearly $1 million in funds from his employer through a shell corporation Richardson controlled by authorizing payment for fraudulent invoices that billed the foundation for work not performed either by Richardson’s shell corporation or other vendors. Assistant United States Attorney William Guappone prosecuted this case on behalf of the government. United States Attorney Rivetti commended the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Allegheny County District Attorney’s Office for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Richardson.


title: Buffalo man sentenced for attacking postal carrier

component: USAO - New York, Western

body_text: BUFFALO, N.Y. -- U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Jacob D. Ortiz, 34, of Buffalo, NY, who was convicted of assaulting a federal employee resulting in bodily injury, was sentenced to time served and three years’ supervised release by U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara. On September 9, 2025, a United States Postal Service (USPS) Letter Carrier approached the mailbox of a residence on Columbus Avenue in South Buffalo and observed Ortiz on the front porch of the house. Without any warning or provocation, Ortiz descended the front steps and lunged toward and tackled the letter carrier (victim) to the ground. Ortiz then began punching the victim repeatedly with his fists, forcing the victim to use their hands to protect their face as Ortiz delivered punches to the victim’s face, head, and midsection. Ortiz temporarily stopped, but then charged a second time, forcing the victim to flee the scene for their own safety. Ortiz gave chase but was unable to catch up, allowing the victim to get to safety. As a result, the victim sustained bodily injury, including a bump on the back of the head, several contusions to other parts of the head and face, and bruises and scrapes to their elbows and knees. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Colleen M. McCarthy. The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service Boston Division, under the direction of Acting Inspector-in-Charge Justin Page. # # # #


title: Kansas City Man Arrested for Illegal Firearms

component: USAO - Missouri, Western

body_text: KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Kansas City, Mo. man was charged after police officers located two machine guns in the vehicle he was driving. Dominic M. Miller, 21, was charged in a two-count criminal complaint on Sept. 5, 2026. The federal criminal complaint charges Miller with being a felon in possession of firearms and possession of machine guns on July 24, 2026. According to the affidavit filed in support of the complaint, uniformed officers of the Kansas City, Missouri Police Department were conducting general patrol in the area of Martin Luther King Boulevard and Propsect Avenue, when they noticed a vehicle driving with an improper license plate. Officers stopped the vehicle and contacted the driver, Miller, and two other passengers. A computer check revealed Miller had an active warrant out of Kansas and he was arrested. During a subsequent search of the vehicle, officers located two Glock handguns under the passenger floorboard. Both firearms were equipped with a machine gun conversion device, more commonly known as a “switch.” These devices convert semi-automatic firearms into fully automatic firearms, more commonly known as machine guns. Laboratory testing confirmed that both firearms functioned as fully automatic machine guns. On Sept. 3, 2026, the Kansas City, Misouri Police Department crime lab located genetic information (“DNA”) consistent with Miller’s DNA on one of the firearms. Prior to this incident, Miller was convicted of the felony of Unlawful Use of a Weapon in Jackson County, Mo., Case Number 2416-CR000871-01. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert M. Smith. It was investigated by the Kansas City, Missouri Police Department. Project Safe Neighborhoods This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.


title: Senegalese Man Sentenced to 17 Months for Unlawfully Reentering the United States After a Prior Removal

component: USAO - Vermont

body_text: BURLINGTON – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont stated that on September 8, 2026, Alassane Sow, 34, of Senegal, was sentenced by Chief United States District Judge Christina Reiss to a time-served sentence, which equates to approximately 17 months of imprisonment. Sow previously pleaded guilty to unlawfully reentering the United States after having been previously removed. According to court records, Sow moved from Senegal to Columbus, Ohio in 2014, eventually becoming a lawful permanent resident. While living in Ohio, Sow was arrested and convicted of multiple criminal offenses, including felony attempted vehicular assault in 2017, misdemeanor driving while impaired in 2018, felony theft in 2019, and felony receipt of stolen property in 2020. In 2023, while incarcerated in Ohio, Sow received a notice to appear for removal proceedings. Sow was subsequently removed on October 16, 2024. On April 13, 2025, at approximately 1:00 a.m., Sow crossed the international border between the United States and Canada near Holland, Vermont. Sow’s unlawful crossing was detected by U.S. Border Patrol sensors, and Sow was apprehended shortly thereafter by U.S. Border Patrol Agents. First Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan A. Ophardt stated: “I am extremely grateful for the hard work and diligence of our Border Patrol Agents on the northern border. Their efforts ensure that those seeking to evade inspection at our ports of entry are swiftly detained. Due to these dedicated men and women, a man with a concerning criminal history was apprehended before he could proceed further into the United States.” The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nate Burris and Matthew Greer. Sow was represented by Assistant Federal Public Defender Emily Kenyon. 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: Armed Drug Trafficker from Springfield, Massachusetts Sentenced to 144 Months for Conspiring to Distribute Fentanyl and Cocaine in Bennington, Vermont

body_text: RUTLAND – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont stated that on September 8, 2026, Alec Diaz, a/k/a “Benn Tenn,” 22, of Springfield, Massachusetts, was sentenced by United States District Judge Mary Kay Lanthier to a term of 144 months’ imprisonment to be followed by a 5-year term of supervised release. Diaz previously pleaded guilty to conspiring to distribute fentanyl and cocaine base, possessing with intent to distribute 28 grams or more of cocaine base, and carrying and using a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. According to court records, between January 2023 and September 2025, Diaz was a manager and supervisor of a drug trafficking organization operating around Bennington, Vermont. Diaz and his associates imported kilograms of cocaine into Vermont on multiple occasions. Once the cocaine was in Vermont, 90% of it was cooked into cocaine base. Diaz and his associates also regularly imported fentanyl. Numerous individuals, including a juvenile, distributed drugs on behalf of Diaz, at times selling over 1,000 bags of fentanyl a day. On September 24, 2025, law enforcement arrested Diaz in Pownal, Vermont. In the camper where Diaz was found, agents seized a .45 caliber handgun, approximately 26 grams of cocaine, approximately 32 grams of cocaine base, and $15,000 cash. In addition to drug trafficking, Diaz was involved in firearms trafficking. Diaz obtained both handguns and AR-style rifles from a Bennington-area resident, and later transferred them to another drug trafficker. Diaz also used firearms during his drug trafficking activities, displaying them to intimidate others and protect his drug trafficking operation. On at least one occasion, Diaz obtained a firearm in exchange for drugs. First Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan A. Ophardt commended the collaborative investigatory efforts of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Bennington County Sheriff’s Department, the Vermont State Police Narcotics Investigation Unit, the Bennington Police Department, the Massachusetts State Police, the Springfield (MA) Police Department, the United States Marshals Service, and the Cambridge (NY) Police Department. First Assistant United States Attorney Ophardt added: “For two and a half years, Diaz pushed kilograms of poisonous drugs into Vermont for profit while facilitating the movement of firearms to other drug traffickers. Diaz’ lengthy prison sentence should serve as a warning to others who would do the same.” The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason Turner. Diaz was represented by Assistant Federal Public Defender Samuel Ansell. 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: U.S. Attorney Moore Capito and Law Enforcement Partners to Announce Results of “Operation Coal Country” at Press Conference

component: USAO - West Virginia, Southern

body_text: CHARLESTON, W.Va. – United States Attorney Moore Capito will join with U.S. Marshal Jack Chambers, West Virginia State Police Colonel James L. Mitchell, and other law enforcement partners at a press conference tomorrow, Wednesday, September 9, 2026, at 1:30 p.m. to announce the results of “Operation Coal Country.” The multi-week enforcement initiative targeted noncompliant sex offenders, individuals wanted for sex crimes, violent fugitives, and other wanted individuals. Operation Coal Country focused on the West Virginia State Police Troop 5 area of Boone , Cabell , Lincoln , Logan , Mingo , and Wayne counties, and also resulted in arrests and criminal charges elsewhere including Kanawha , Jackson , Mercer , Raleigh , and Wood counties. WHAT: Press Conference to announce results of Operation Coal Country WHEN: Wednesday, September 9, 2026, at 1:30 p.m. WHERE: Front Plaza, Robert C. Byrd U.S. Courthouse, Charleston 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. ###


title: Illegal alien sentenced for firearm possession after visa overstay in Houston

component: USAO - Texas, Southern

body_text: HOUSTON – A 25-year-old Mexican national who illegally resided in Houston has been ordered to federal prison for unlawful possession of a firearm. Erik Guadalupe Ibarra Venegas pleaded guilty June 5. U.S. District Judge Keith P. Ellison has now ordered Venegas to serve 16 months in federal prison and a $100 special assessment. As an illegal alien, he is expected to face removal proceedings following his imprisonment. Oct. 28, 2025, law enforcement responded to a report of a suspicious man pushing two bicycles and carrying tools in a cul-de-sac. Authorities found Venegas walking in the middle of the road obstructing traffic. During the police encounter, the defendant was asked if he had any firearms. Venegas showed the officer a 5.56 caliber pistol that was on his person. Venegas had no identification and provided a fake name, but fingerprint analysis later confirmed his identity. The investigation revealed Venegas had overstayed his visa and was unlawfully present in the United States. As a result, he is prohibited under federal law from possessing firearms and ammunition. He has been and will remain in custody pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future. Hedwig Village Police Department, ICE - Homeland Security Investigations, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives conducted the investigation. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Smith and AUSA Byron Black 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: First week of September brings 239 more cases in continued border enforcement efforts

body_text: HOUSTON – Another 247 people have been charged, including 232 illegal aliens, in 239 cases involving immigration and border security-related crimes from Aug. 28-Sept. 3. A total of 171 criminal complaints were filed for felony reentry after prior removal, while another 41 people face charges of illegal entry. Most of those illegal aliens have prior felonies involving narcotics, violent crime, immigration offenses, and more. In addition, 42 people have been charged with human smuggling which includes 20 illegal aliens themselves. The remaining cases charged this week relate to other immigration crimes and firearms charges. Three illegal aliens charged during this period were already removed this year, but returned again unlawfully to the Rio Grande Valley, according to new criminal complaints against them. Junior Fidel Ramos-Leiva is a Honduran male who allegedly has a prior conviction of robbery with dangerous weapon, while Mexican nationals Brayan Valadez-Hernandez and Brayan Gutierrez-Salvador have two prior felony drug convictions and an alien smuggling conviction, respectively. Law enforcement discovered three more Mexican males illegally in the United States. Jose Ivan Hernandez-Martinez and Jose Francisco Torres-Olguin allegedly have prior convictions for alien in possession of a firearm and alien smuggling before their removals in 2025. Jose Luis Amezcua-Gutierrez was discovered near Hidalgo, despite having been removed in 2024 following his conviction and sentence for indecent liberties with child. All five face up to 20 years in federal prison if convicted. In addition to the new cases, Ivan Gerardo Castillo-Castro , an illegal alien from Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas, Mexico, received a 33-month federal prison sentence for being an alien in possession of a firearm. At the hearing, the court heard about his prior criminal history, including convictions for assault and illegal reentry, as well as incidents in which he assaulted a domestic partner, a juvenile, and a police officer attempting to arrest him. While awaiting sentencing, he also participated in a gang-style assault on other inmates. The cases are referred or supported by federal law enforcement partners, including ICE - Homeland Security Investigations, ICE - Enforcement and Removal Operations, Border Patrol, Drug Enforcement Administration, FBI, U.S. Marshals Service, as well as the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives with additional assistance from state and local law enforcement partners. The cases are part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigrants, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Under current leadership, public safety and a secure border are the top priorities for the Southern District. Enhanced enforcement both at the border and in the interior of the district have yielded aliens engaged in unlawful activity or with serious criminal histories, including convictions for human trafficking, sexual assault, and violence against children. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas remains one of the busiest in the nation. It represents 43 counties and more than 10 million people covering 44,000 square miles. Assistant U.S. Attorneys from all seven divisions including Houston, Galveston, Victoria, Corpus Christi, Brownsville, McAllen, and Laredo work directly with our law enforcement partners on the federal, state, and local levels to prosecute the suspected offenders of these and other federal crimes. An indictment or criminal complaint is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.


title: Grand jury indicts Cincinnati man for assaulting postal worker

component: USAO - Ohio, Southern

body_text: CINCINNATI – A federal grand jury has indicted Wendell Terrence Swan, 56, of Cincinnati, charging him with assaulting a federal employee. According to the indictment, on Aug. 5, Swan intentionally assaulted a United States Postal Service mail carrier while the victim was engaged in his official duties. Swan allegedly struck the mail carrier several times and threw him to the ground, inflicting bodily injury. Swan was indicted on Sept. 2 and brought into custody today. Assaulting a federal employee carries a potential penalty of up to 20 years in prison. Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; and Lesley Allison, Inspector in Charge, U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS); announced the charges. Assistant United States Attorney Anthony Springer is representing the United States in this case. An indictment merely contains allegations, and defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law. # # #


title: Columbus man sentenced to 15 years in prison for cyberstalking exes, creating AI-generated obscene material of adults & children

body_text: COLUMBUS, Ohio – James Strahler II, 37, of Columbus, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 180 months in prison for cybercrimes that included both real and AI-generated sexually explicit images and threats of violence to numerous victims. Strahler had installed more than 24 AI platforms and more than 100 AI web-based models on his phone. The defendant used telephone calls, voicemails, text messages and web postings to engage in a campaign of harassment against his victims. Strahler pleaded guilty in April to cyberstalking, producing obscene visual representations of child sexual abuse and publication of digital forgeries. His conviction of publication of digital forgeries is part of the Take It Down Act, a law enacted in 2025 that prohibits non-consensual online publication of intimate visual depictions and AI forgeries. “I’m proud of my Office’s prosecution of this case—the first in the Nation under the Take It Down Act,” said U.S. Attorney Dominick S. Gerace II. “Thanks to this new law, we can now show offenders like Strahler that they will not get away with producing and posting disturbing AI-generated content. Today’s sentence should serve as a warning that significant prison time will result from this repulsive conduct.” “The Take It Down Act was enacted to protect innocent victims from AI-generated deepfakes or intimate images shared online without permission,” stated FBI Cincinnati Special Agent in Charge Jason Cromartie. “The FBI will continue to investigate these digital crimes used to harm real people and ensure offenders are brought to justice.” “This case demonstrates the importance of taking these types of crimes seriously and working together to protect victims and hold offenders accountable,” said Hilliard Police Chief Mike Woods. “We are proud of the work our officers and detectives did to help bring this case forward and grateful to our federal and local partners for seeing it through to justice.” From December 2024 until June 2025, Strahler sent harassing messages to at least six adult female victims. These messages included nude images of the victims, both real and AI-generated. For example, Strahler used AI to create pornographic videos depicting at least one adult victim engaged in sex acts with her father. He then distributed those videos to the victim’s co-workers. He also messaged the mothers of the adult females and demanded nude photos of them, threatening to circulate explicit or obscene images he created of their daughters if they did not comply. He often called the victims and left voicemails of him masturbating or threatening rape. He referred to the victims’ specific home addresses in his threats. Strahler also posted online AI-generated obscenities he created of children. He generated these files using the faces of minor boys from his community. He then morphed the face of the minor boys onto the bodies of other adults or children and created videos that depicted the boys engaged in sex acts. Strahler specifically created AI-generated obscenity of the minor boys having sex with their mothers and/or grandmothers. Strahler created more than 700 images of both real victims and animated persons and posted them to a website dedicated to child sexual abuse. An additional 2,400 images and videos on his phone were flagged as depicting nudity, morphed child sexual abuse material or violence. Strahler’s criminal conduct was first reported to the Hilliard Police Department and the Delaware County Sheriff’s Office before being referred to the FBI. He was arrested on federal charges in June 2025. Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Jason Cromartie, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division; Hilliard Police Chief Mike Woods and officials with the Maryland AI and Synthetic Media Threats Task Force (MASTTF); announced the sentence imposed today by Chief U.S. District Court Judge Sarah D. Morrison. Assistant United States Attorney Emily Czerniejewski is representing the United States in this case. This case is part of Project Safe Childhood , a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. # # #


title: Husband And Wife Fraudsters Extradited From Jamaica After Wife’s Failed Attempt To Flee Justice

component: USAO - New York, Southern

body_text: United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jamie McDonald, and United States Marshal for the Southern District of New York, Ricky J. Patel, announced the extradition of husband and wife, SWAYNE BARKER and RICKI RICKALINE GIBBS, from Jamaica today on fraud and bail jumping charges, respectively. BARKER faces charges of conspiracy, wire fraud, mail fraud, money laundering, and receiving stolen money for his role in a multi-year scheme to defraud elderly victims across the United States, resulting in losses of over $1.7 million to more than 20 victims. GIBBS was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Kenneth M. Karas in January 2026 to 51 months in prison for conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud in connection with this scheme. Following sentencing, GIBBS fled to Jamaica and now faces additional charges for bail jumping. BAKER and GIBBS arrived in the United States on August 27, 2026, and were presented before U.S. Magistrate Judge Andrew E. Krause. Both cases are assigned to U.S. District Judge Kenneth M. Karas. “Today’s extradition makes clear that fraudsters who exploit vulnerable victims will be held accountable and that those who would seek to escape the consequences of their crimes will be relentlessly pursued until they are brought to justice,” said U.S. Attorney Jamie McDonald. “Attempting to escape a federal sentence or hide from charges across the ocean is a losing strategy,” said U.S. Marshal Ricky J. Patel. “Ricki Rickaline Gibbs jumped bail and fled to Jamaica, but the USMS in the Southern District of New York and the USMS Jamaica Foreign Field Office, working hand-in-hand with local Jamaican law enforcement, tracked both Gibbs and Swayne Barker down. Our message is clear: if you prey on vulnerable individuals there will be nowhere safe for you to hide. We will find you and bring you back to answer for your crimes.” According to the Superseding Indictment through which BARKER is charged and statements made in public filings and in public court proceedings:(1) From at least in or about 2019 through at least in or about 2023, BARKER and GIBBS defrauded more than 20 victims of over $1.7 million by representing to victims that they had won prizes in a sweepstakes and needed to transfer money to pay taxes and fees to claim their purported prizes. In truth, the victims had not won any sweepstakes prizes, and BARKER, GIBBS, and others misappropriated these victims’ funds. Victims of this scheme typically received an unsolicited phone call or text from an individual using a common name—e.g., “Robert James,” “Robert Hill,” or “Mark Miller”—claiming they had won a life-changing amount of money and a luxury car but needed to pay taxes or fees to addresses and accounts specified by the caller before receiving the prize. The caller then remained in contact with the victims and, after the victims made their initial payments as directed, informed the victims that additional payments were required to receive their purported winnings. In particular, victims were instructed to send money by mailing checks, money orders, Vanilla Visa gift cards, and cash concealed in books, as well as by wire and Zelle transfer, to addresses and accounts identified by the caller. After luring victims in with the sweepstakes lie, the perpetrators of this scheme also used romance scam tactics to induce victims to continue making payments. Gibbs is a dual citizen of Jamaica and the United States, who participated in the scheme from both New York and Jamaica, alongside co-conspirators based in Jamaica, including BARKER, who is a citizen of Jamaica. According to the Indictment charging GIBBS with failure to surrender for service of sentence and statements made in public filings and in public court proceedings: GIBBS was sentenced by the Honorable Kenneth M. Karas on January 7, 2026, and ordered to surrender on February 9, 2026, to the United States Marshal for the Southern District of New York, or to a designated facility. GIBBS failed to surrender to the United States Marshal on that date and instead fled to Jamaica, where she was arrested in April 2026 pursuant to a U.S. provisional arrest warrant. * * * BARKER is charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and mail fraud, wire fraud, mail fraud, and conspiracy to commit money laundering, each of which carries a maximum term of 20 years in prison, as well conspiracy to receive stolen money, which carries a maximum term of five years in prison. GIBBS is charged with failure to surrender for service of sentence, which carries a maximum term of 10 years in prison. In addition to this new charge, GIBBS has been extradited to serve her pending sentence of 51 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release. GIBBS has also been ordered to pay forfeiture of $1,018,703, and restitution of $1,379,402. The maximum potential 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 the judge. Mr. McDonald praised the outstanding investigative work of the Special Agents of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York and the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Division. Mr. McDonald also thanked the U.S. Marshals Service, the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs and Jamaican authorities, including the Jamaican Constabulary Force, for their assistance in securing BARKER and GIBBS’s arrest and extradition. This case is being handled by the Office’s White Plains Division. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Benjamin Levander, Margaret Vasu, and Ioannis Drivas are in charge of the prosecution. The charges against BARKER in the Superseding Indictment and against GIBBS in the Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. ^ As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Superseding Indictment against BARKER and the description of the Superseding Indictment against BARKER set forth herein constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.


title: Evansville Drug Trafficking Organization Dismantled as Six Head to Federal Prison

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: EVANSVILLE- Six individuals, all from Evansville, have been sentenced to federal prison for their roles in a methamphetamine, fentanyl, and cocaine trafficking ring operating in Southern Indiana. Defendant Sentence Charge(s) Lovechild McGuire, 33 28 years’ imprisonment, five years of supervised release Conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Christopher Flax, 50 13 years’ imprisonment, three years of supervised release Conspiracy to distribute over 500 grams of methamphetamine Amiee Ranes, 46 15 years’ imprisonment, five years of supervised release Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 500 Grams or more of methamphetamine Trent Marion. 39 15 years’ imprisonment, five years of supervised release Conspiracy to distribute over 500 grams of methamphetamine Unique Carter, 28 Seven years’ imprisonment, five years of supervised release Conspiracy to distribute over 500 grams of methamphetamine Camri Outlaw, 31 Time served, two years of supervised release Conspiracy to distribute over 500 grams of methamphetamine According to court documents, investigators began examining the organization in January 2023, identifying a coordinated group responsible for distributing crystal methamphetamine, cocaine, and fentanyl throughout the Evansville area. McGuire served as the local leader of the trafficking ring, securing bulk quantities of narcotics from a supplier in Springfield, Tennessee. Flax, Ranes, Marion, and Carter operated as mid‑level distributors. During the investigation, officers learned that the N-Handz barber shop on South Green River Road was being used as a primary distribution location. Additionally, a storage unit at Eastside Park served as the organization’s main stash site. On November 30, 2023, McGuire directed his romantic partner, Camri Outlaw, to pay drug couriers $60,000 for 35 pounds of methamphetamine. Outlaw transported the narcotics from her home to the storage unit controlled by McGuire and Carter. That same day, federal agents executed a search warrant on the unit, recovering approximately 34.8 pounds of crystal methamphetamine, 13,000 fentanyl pills, and one kilogram of cocaine. Between June 1, 2023, and December 5, 2023, the drug trafficking organization distributed more than 4.5 kilograms of actual methamphetamine into the Evansville community. “Methamphetamine and other deadly controlled substances have devastating impacts on users, their loved ones, and our communities,” said Tom Wheeler, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “Drug traffickers like these defendants, responsible for pushing this poison from across the country into our neighborhoods, must be held accountable for the suffering they cause in search of quick profits. This operation is an outstanding example of the impact we can have with the help of our state and local law enforcement partners.” The Drug Enforcement Administration and Evansville Vanderburgh County Drug Task Force investigated this case. The sentences were imposed by U.S. District Court Judge Matthew P. Brookman. U.S. Attorney Wheeler thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren Wheatley, who prosecuted this case. This case is part of Operation Take Back America , a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. ###


title: Columbus Man Receives 27-Year Federal Sentence for Sexually Exploiting Child in His Care

component: USAO - Indiana, Southern

body_text: INDIANAPOLIS- Andrew Wade Case, 39, of Columbus, Indiana, has been sentenced to 27 years and three months in federal prison, followed by a lifetime of supervised release, after pleading guilty to sexual exploitation of a child, as well as distribution and possession of child sexual abuse material. Upon release from federal prison, Case must register as a sex offender wherever he lives, works, or goes to school, as required by law. According to the indictment, on December 19, 2024, Andrew Case forced Minor Victim 1 — a child under the age of 12 and in his custody and care— to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing a four-minute video. In addition to exploiting the child in his care, Case also distributed other child sexual abuse material to individuals over a peer‑to‑peer network. The Indiana Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force and the Bloomington Police Department received alerts related to the videos Case shared. When investigators executed a search warrant at Case’s home, they found Minor Victim 1 living in severely neglected conditions, including sleeping on the floor amid insects and showing signs of untreated lice. A forensic examination of Case’s cell phone revealed more than 600 images and videos depicting prepubescent children engaged in sexually explicit conduct, including content involving sadomasochistic abuse and other depictions of violence or exploitation of infants and toddlers. “A child’s home should be a sanctuary of safety, trust, and protection where they are shielded from the dangers of the world. Instead, this safe space was violated by the defendant. It is paramount we safeguard children from every threat, especially when those threats come from within their own home,” said Tom Wheeler, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “While this child has endured irreversible trauma, we hope today’s sentence helps restore her trust in the justice system and offers a measure of peace as she moves forward.” “The Secret Service is committed to leveraging the full weight of its cyber and forensic resources to support investigations into crimes against children,” said Ike Barnes, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Secret Service Indianapolis Field Office. “This case is a sobering reminder of the threat a child can face inside of their own home. Our investigators are committed to using every tool available to hold those who victimize children in their care accountable. We thank the Indiana State Police and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Indiana for their steadfast partnership throughout this investigation, and we’ll continue to work together to ensure anyone preying on a child in our community is brought to justice.” "The Indiana Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force maintains zero tolerance for adults who abuse positions of trust to sexually exploit, harm, or abuse children," said Indiana State Police Lieutenant Christopher Cecil, the commander of the Indiana Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. " We are committed to locating, investigating, and arresting offenders who prey on children. No child deserves to live in fear." The United States Secret Service and the Indiana State Police Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force investigated this case. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Court Judge James P. Hanlon U.S. Attorney Wheeler thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Kyle M. Sawa, who prosecuted this case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood , a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, 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. If you are a victim of child sexual exploitation, please contact your local police department. Resources for victims of child exploitation can be found on our website at https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdin/project-safe-childhood This investigation was conducted by the Indiana Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force, a multiagency task force led by the Indiana State Police that investigates and prosecutes persons who use the internet to sexually exploit or entice children. Each year, Indiana ICAC investigators evaluate thousands of tips, investigate hundreds of cases, and rescue dozens of children from ongoing sexual abuse. Visit https://www. internetcrimesagainstkids.com to learn more about their efforts. ###


title: Iowa and Michigan Men Sentenced to Federal Prison for Conspiracy to Distribute Fentanyl

component: USAO - Iowa, Southern

body_text: DES MOINES, Iowa – Two men were sentenced to federal prison for conspiracy to distribute more than 400 grams of a mixture and substance containing fentanyl. According to public court documents and evidence presented at sentencing, the Des Moines Police Department began investigating Corser Scott Paine, 29, of Des Moines, and Eric Tyrone White, 31, of Detroit, following the overdose death of a Des Moines man in April 2025. During a search of Paine’s apartment five days after the overdose death, law enforcement found hundreds of grams of fentanyl powder mixed with Xylazine (a veterinary sedative), BTMPS (an industrial chemical), and methamphetamine, as well as fentanyl test strips, scales, baggies, gloves, and a blender that had been used to mix the drugs. At least nine cellphones were seized and searched, which allowed law enforcement to connect Paine to the overdose victim and demonstrated that White served as Paine’s drug source of supply. On July 7, 2026, Paine was sentenced to 126-months’ imprisonment, followed by a five-year term of supervised release. On September 3, 2026, White was sentenced to 195-months’ imprisonment, followed by a five-year term of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system. United States Attorney David C. Waterman of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The Des Moines Police Department’s Vice and Narcotics Control Unit investigated the case.


title: Des Moines Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Federal Prison for Receipt and Possession of Child Pornography

body_text: DES MOINES, Iowa – A Des Moines man was sentenced on September 3, 2026 to 15 years in federal prison for receiving and possessing child pornography. According to public court documents, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children received a CyberTip that an account, later determined to be associated with Jacob Adam Toler, 31, uploaded and distributed files containing child sexual abuse material. Law enforcement seized a cell phone and a laptop during a search of Toler’s Des Moines residence. A forensic examination of the seized electronic devices showed that Toler used them to receive and possess more than 125 videos containing child sexual abuse material. After completing his term of imprisonment, Toler will be required to serve a 10‑year term of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system. Toler was also ordered to pay $48,500 in restitution. United States Attorney David C. Waterman of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The Iowa Department of Public Safety-Division of Criminal Investigation-Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force and the Federal Bureau of Investigation-Child Exploitation Task Force investigated 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 the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, 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 information about internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the resources tab.


title: Defendants sentenced after pleading guilty to illegally transporting a stolen motor vehicle

body_text: STATESBORO, Georgia: An illegal alien has been sentenced to federal prison for his role in a stolen vehicle operation. His co-defendant’s have also been sentenced. The sentences were imposed by U.S. District Court Judge L. Randal Hall and announced by Margaret E. “Meg” Heap, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. They include: Marcial Diaz-Sanchez , 25, of El Salvador, was sentenced to 18 months in prison, three years of supervised release and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $70,859 after pleading guilty to Interstate Transportation of a Stolen Motor Vehicle. Isaiah Joseph Jaimes , 25, of South Houston, Texas, was sentenced to time served followed by three years of supervised release, 40 hours of community service and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $70,859 after pleading guilty to Interstate Transportation of a Stolen Motor Vehicle. There is no parole in the federal system. As described in court documents and testimony, in November 2024, Diaz-Sanchez and his co-defendant attempted to sell a vehicle, which they knew had been stolen from Texas. The defendants used Facebook Marketplace to negotiate and arrange the sale of the vehicle, which unbeknownst to them was to an undercover Jenkins County Deputy Sheriff. A subsequent search of the defendant’s phone revealed photos of high-end vehicles, counterfeit Texas titles and VINs, and large amounts of U.S. currency. An additional co-defendant, Rene Armando Reyes Velasquez , 24, of El Salvador, was previously sentenced in June after pleading guilty to Interstate Transportation of a Stolen Motor Vehicle. “Know this: those that steal another’s property and disregard federal law will face justice,” said U.S. Attorney Heap. “Our extensive relationship with our law enforcement partners was instrumental in the prosecution of this case, directly impacting the safety of our communities and security of our property.” “Stealing vehicles and attempting to turn stolen property into profit comes with serious consequences,” said Brad Snider, Supervisory Senior Resident Agent of FBI Atlanta’s Statesboro office. “The FBI and our law enforcement partners will continue to work together to disrupt these schemes, recover stolen property, and hold those responsible accountable.” The FBI and Jenkins County Sheriff’s Office assisted in the investigation of this case and was prosecuted for the United States by Southern District of Georgia Assistant U.S. Attorneys Marcela C. Mateo and Kelsey L. Scanlon.


title: Sioux Falls Man Sentenced to Over 4 Years in Federal Prison  for Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine

component: USAO - South Dakota

body_text: SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier sentenced a Sioux Falls, South Dakota, man convicted of Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine. The sentencing took place on August 31, 2026. Angelo Mario Butler, Jr., 42, was sentenced to four years and nine months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Butler was indicted by a federal grand jury in January 2026 and pleaded guilty on June 22, 2026. Butler’s conviction stems from a traffic stop on September 23, 2025, when he was found in possession of eight, individually-packaged baggies of methamphetamine and a handgun. He admitted he intended to distribute the methamphetamine to others. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). Through PSN, the District of South Dakota seeks to bring together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce gun violence and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Sioux Falls Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Joyce prosecuted the case. Butler was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.


title: Sioux Falls Man Sentenced to 14 Months in Federal Prison  for Possessing a Firearm as a Felon

body_text: SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that Chief Judge Roberto A. Lange, U.S. District Court, sentenced a Sioux Falls, South Dakota, man convicted of Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person. The sentencing took place on August 31, 2026. Mohamed Mohamud Hassan, 22, was sentenced to one year and two months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Hassan was indicted by a federal grand jury in March 2026 and pleaded guilty on June 1, 2026. Hassan was charged with possessing a firearm on October 2, 2025. On that day, he was driving a vehicle stopped by law enforcement and had a handgun on the driver’s seat of the vehicle. He was prohibited from possessing the firearm based on a prior felony conviction. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). Through PSN, the District of South Dakota seeks to bring together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce gun violence and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, South Dakota Highway Patrol, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Sioux Falls Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Joyce prosecuted the case. Hassan was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.


title: Madison Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Attempted Enticement of a Minor

body_text: SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. Chief Judge Roberto A. Lange has sentenced a Madison, South Dakota, man convicted of Attempted Enticement of a Minor Using the Internet. The sentencing took place on August 31, 2026. Lawrence Johnson, age 51, was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100. Johnson must register as a sex offender upon release from federal prison. Johnson was indicted by a federal grand jury in December 2024 and pleaded guilty on June 1, 2026. The conviction stemmed from an undercover chat operation conducted by the Des Moines County, Iowa, Sheriff’s Office between September 15, 2024, and October 10, 2024, during which law enforcement posed online as underage child personas to catch individuals who seek sexual acts or sexually explicit materials from minors. In Johnson’s case, he was using his cell phone to access Facebook and befriended “Abby,” an undercover law enforcement officer who told Johnson she was 13 years old. Throughout the conversation, Johnson attempted to convince “Abby” to send him nude images of herself and travel to South Dakota for the purpose of having sex with him. Johnson was arrested, and when interviewed by law enforcement, admitted his behavior and belief that “Abby” was a real 13-year-old girl from whom he was seeking sexually explicit images and sex. This case was investigated by the Des Moines County Sheriff’s Office, the South Dakota DCI, and Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Ebert-Webb 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 the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc . Johnson was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.


title: Final Defendant in Child Sex Trafficking Ring Sentenced to 25 Years in Federal Prison

component: USAO - South Carolina

body_text: COLUMBIA, S.C. — Antonio Marquis Nicholson, 34, of West Columbia, has been sentenced to 25 years in federal prison for conspiracy to commit sex trafficking of children. Evidence obtained in the investigation revealed that in 2023, Nicholson and his codefendants targeted vulnerable minors, specifically 16 and 17-year-old girls. One victim was a missing and runaway minor from another state. Two victims were Columbia-area high school students with clear vulnerabilities. Together, the four defendants enticed, harbored, transported, advertised, provided, and exploited the three girls into commercial sexual exploitation. They took photographs of the victims, gave them lingerie, advertised them on commercial sex websites, and confiscated the proceeds. Victims were subjected to physical violence and forced to have sex with adult men. They were exposed to drugs, guns, and dangerous encounters with violent customers. The young girls did not have access to medical care, food, or other daily necessities. “This is the behavior of a monster. Nicholson and his codefendants exploited these children in the most vulnerable way possible,” said U.S. Attorney Bryan Stirling for the District of South Carolina. “I commend law enforcement for working together at the federal, state and local level to intervene and rescue these children, who are survivors of such heinous acts.” “Antonio Nicholson targeted vulnerable kids, including runaways, and treated them like property to be advertised, sold, and controlled,” said HSI Carolinas Special Agent in Charge Mark M. Zito. “Today’s sentence sends a clear message: if you prey on children, you will pay for it. HSI and our partners will keep working to protect children and other vulnerable people and bring these predators to justice.” “It’s heartbreaking to think sex trafficking happens in our communities. Our children are our greatest asset while also being our most vulnerable. To profit off cruelty and abuse to a child is reprehensible,” said SLED Chief Mark Keel. “In South Carolina, the local, state, and federal partnerships we have mean those who commit such disgusting crimes will face the consequences. Every survivor deserves justice.” United States District Judge Sherri A. Lydon sentenced Nicholson to 300 months’ imprisonment, to be followed by a lifetime of court-ordered supervision. Three co-defendants were previously sentenced. Terrell Counts was previously sentenced to 135 months’ imprisonment. Rebecca Melanie Perry was sentenced to 150 months’ imprisonment. Monesha Tatayana Lapri Gary was sentenced to 165 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC . This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, and the Columbia Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elliott B. Daniels and Ariyana N. Gore prosecuted the case. ###


title: 60-Year-Old Man from Arecibo Found Guilty of Child Exploitation

body_text: SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – On September 3, 2026, after a four-day jury trial, Willie Torres-Gerena, 60, of Arecibo, PR, was found guilty of transportation of a minor with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity. United States District Court Senior Judge Francisco A. Besosa presided over the trial. On January 25, 2024, FBI Special Agents arrested Torres-Gerena, former boxing coach, for attempting to engage in sexual activity with a 16-year-old female minor. Evidence and witness testimonies presented during trial revealed that the defendant, who was a trusted father figure for the victim, invited her to lunch and instead transported her to a motel and attempted to rape her. “These cases are particularly sensitive and require expertise, patience, understanding, and compassion for the victim,” said Acting U.S. Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico Héctor Ramírez Carbó. “This verdict sends a clear message that those who exploit minors or attempt to do so will be held fully accountable and face significant consequences for their crimes.” “Today’s verdict reflects our unwavering commitment to protecting the most vulnerable members of our community,” said Carlos R. Goris, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s San Juan Field Office. “Thanks to the courage of the victim and the dedicated work of our partners at the U.S. Attorney’s Office, justice was served. The FBI will continue to work tirelessly to ensure that those who exploit or harm children are brought to account, no exceptions.” The defendant faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years up to life in prison, followed by a supervised release term of five years up to life. Sentencing is scheduled for December 2, 2026, at 9:00 am. The defendant was ordered detained in custody of the Bureau of Prisons pending sentencing. The FBI investigated the case with the collaboration of the Puerto Rico Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Daynelle Álvarez‑Lora and Fabiola Rivera-Laboy from the Child Exploitation and Immigration Unit prosecuted the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, 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. ###