title: Buffalo woman sentenced for her role in conspiracy to steal mail

component: USAO - New York, Western

body_text: BUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Alexandria Duncan, 23, of Buffalo, NY, who was convicted of conspiracy to commit mail theft, was sentenced to serve two years’ probation by U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara. Between October 9 and October 14, 2024, Duncan conspired with co-defendant Timothee S. Tidwell to steal mail from receptacles in Hamburg, NY, and take articles from inside the letters and envelopes that were stolen. For instance, in the early morning hours of October 14, 2024, Duncan drove a vehicle to Camp Road with Tidwell, who exited the vehicle and approached a row of mailboxes outside the post office on Camp Road with a postal arrow key he was not legally entitled to possess. After Tidwell exited the vehicle, Duncan drove the vehicle across the street to a gas station where she was approached by a Village of Hamburg Police officer. While the police officer interacted with Duncan, Tidwell fled the scene. Duncan and Tidwell used a postal arrow key to open various mailboxes in the Hamburg area to steal multiple mail items. On October 14, 2024, law enforcement recovered opened and unopened mail addressed to other people from Duncan’s vehicle. The opened mail included checks from various individuals and businesses and totaled approximately $369,104.92. Charges remain pending against Timothee Tidwell. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Franz M. Wright. The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the Village of Hamburg Police, under the direction of Chief Richard Schara, and the United States Postal Inspection Service, under the direction of Acting Inspector-in-Charge Justin Page, Boston Division. # # # #


title: Raytown Man Sentenced to 74 Months for Using Gun During CVS Robbery

component: USAO - Missouri, Western

body_text: KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Rayton, Mo., man was sentenced in federal court for using a firearm to rob a CVS pharmacy. Ta’Rod Glenel Perkins, 28, was sentenced by U.S. Chief District Judge Brian C. Wimes to six years and two months of imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release for using a firearm during an armed robbery of a CVS pharmacy in Kansas City, Mo. On Jan. 21, 2026, Perkins, pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Lajuan M. Counts to one count of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, specifically a robbery of a CVS pharmacy store. At the time Perkins robbed the CVS, he was on federal supervised release related to another federal prosecution. Perkins’s sentence includes his sentence for violating his conditions of supervised release by robbing the CVS. According to the written plea agreement, Perkins admitted that on Feb. 13, 2025, he entered a CVS in Kansas City, Mo., wearing a mask, a black coat, blue jeans, and gloves. Witnesses reported that the robber had a handgun and stated: “I want promethazine and oxy. I don’t want any trouble. Just give me Promethazine and Oxy.” Perkins jumped over the counter and grabbed a red tub that was filled with controlled substances. CVS employees were able to place a tracking device in the red tub that Perkins stole. This tracker led investigators to a residence in Belton, Mo., where Perkins was found. Investigators obtained a search warrant of the residence and found clothing worn by the robber during the robbery. A firearm was later recovered from a neighbor who found it hidden under a barbeque grill on the deck. Law enforcement officials swabbed the firearm for genetic material and DNA comparative analysis tended to show that Perkins’s DNA was present on the firearm. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Trey Alford. It was investigated by Kansas City, Mo. Police Department, the Belton, Mo. Police Department, and Federal Bureau of Investigation. Operation Take Back America 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: U.S. Attorney’s Office Recognizes National Fentanyl Prevention and Awareness Day to Remind Citizens that “One Pill Can Kill”

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

body_text: On Friday, August 21, 2026 , U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Keller of the Western District of Louisiana will join Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and community partners in observing National Fentanyl Prevention and Awareness Day , joining communities across Louisiana and the country working to confront the deadliest drug crisis in U.S. history. The day is dedicated to educating the public about the dangers of illicit fentanyl and honoring the lives lost to fentanyl poisoning and overdose. “Fentanyl’s horrific effect on our communities, our families, and our friends demands that we continue increasing awareness of the threat it poses while doing everything we can to eliminate it from our society,” said U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Keller. “It is a time for reflecting upon the harm fentanyl has caused and our need to continue the fight against it. The U.S. Attorney’s Office stands alongside our federal and state law enforcement partners in combatting this poison and dismantling the groups that peddle it in our streets. ” Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid approximately 50 times more potent than heroin and 100 times more potent than morphine. It is inexpensive, widely available, highly addictive, and distributed in a variety of forms. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nearly 70,000 Americans died from drug overdose or poisoning in 2025. While early provisional statistics for 2026 show an encouraging decrease in mortality, fentanyl remains the leading cause of accidental drug overdose deaths in the United States. Fentanyl trafficking is central to this serious public safety crisis. Traffickers frequently mix fentanyl with other drugs to increase addiction and profits, often without a user’s knowledge. Just 2 milligrams of fentanyl—an amount smaller than a grain of salt—can be lethal. National Fentanyl Prevention and Awareness Day is an urgent call to action for individuals, families, schools, businesses, and community organizations to: Share information about the dangers of fentanyl, fentanyl trafficking, and counterfeit pills in schools, youth associations, faith-based organizations, and other community groups. Promote fentanyl education and informed decision‑making. Encourage access to overdose response resources, including naloxone. Support individuals and families affected by substance use disorders. Participate in local awareness events and community outreach efforts. So far in 2026, DEA has seized more than 21 million fentanyl pills and 9,970 pounds of fentanyl powder, amounting to about 239 million deadly doses. In 2025, DEA seized over 47 million fentanyl pills and nearly 10,000 pounds of fentanyl powder—about 369 million potentially deadly doses — kept out of American communities. Information and free educational resources, including the One Pill Can Kill partner toolkit and youth conversation guides, are available at DEA.gov/onepill. Louisiana citizens are encouraged to learn as much as possible about this deadly scourge and how to defend against it. Families may also submit photographs for the Faces of Fentanyl memorial exhibit at www.dea.gov/facesoffentanyl. By raising awareness, strengthening education, and supporting affected families, communities can help save lives and confront the ongoing fentanyl crisis. Resources : DEA Fentanyl Awareness: https://www.dea.gov/fentanylawareness Prevention Toolkits: https://www.cdc.gov/overdose-prevention/php/toolkits/fentanyl-prevention-awareness-day.html ### CONTACT : Public Affairs: USALAW-News@usdoj.gov United States Attorney’s Office: www.justice.gov/usao-wdla X: @USAO_WDLA Facebook: USAO_WDLA (337) 262-6704


title: 6 Indicted for Madisonville-Area Drug Distribution Ring Following a Homeland Security Task Force Investigation Led by DEA and MPD

component: USAO - Kentucky, Western

body_text: Madisonville, KY – Following a joint state and federal investigation led by the DEA and the Madisonville Police Department, a federal grand jury in Bowling Green, Kentucky, returned an indictment on August 12, 2026, charging six Madisonville-area individuals with drug distribution-related charges. U.S. Attorney Kyle G. Bumgarner of the Western District of Kentucky, Special Agent in Charge Jim Scott of the DEA Louisville Field Division, and Chief Steve Bryan of the Madisonville Police Department made the announcement. According to the 13-count indictment, Traviel Civils , 34, of Madisonville, Kentucky; Teron Cox , 41, of Earlington, Kentucky; James Gunn , 69, of Greenville, Kentucky; Adam Pettus , 41, of Earlington, Kentucky; Brooke Poe , 44, of Madisonville, Kentucky; and Robert Rice , 46, of Madisonville, Kentucky, were charged with conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute controlled substances involving 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and 500 grams or more of cocaine. Civils was charged with seven additional counts of distribution of controlled substances involving cocaine and methamphetamine. Pettus was charged with 10 additional counts of distribution of controlled substances and possession with intent to distribute controlled substances involving cocaine and methamphetamine. Rice was charged with two additional counts of distribution of controlled substances and possession with intent to distribute controlled substances involving methamphetamine. Cox was charged with two additional counts of possession with intent to distribute controlled substances involving cocaine and methamphetamine. Gunn was charged with one additional count of possession with intent to distribute controlled substances involving methamphetamine. All defendants other than Cox recently made an initial court appearance before a U.S. Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Western District of Kentucky. These defendants remained detained in federal custody pending trial. Cox remains in state custody and will make an initial appearance at a later date. If convicted, the defendants each face a minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum of life. There is no parole in the federal system. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. This case is being investigated by the DEA and the Madisonville Police Department with assistance from the ATF, Kentucky State Police, Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office and Madisonville Vice Narcotics Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorney R. Nicholas Rabold of the U.S. Attorney’s Bowling Green Branch Office is prosecuting the case. The case is also being worked in conjunction with Hopkins County Commonwealth’s Attorney Hannah Kington-Jarvis. This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Louisville comprises agents and officers from FBI, HSI, DEA, ATF, and IRS, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Kentucky. An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. ###


title: Two Massachusetts Men Charged with Drug-Related Shooting Death in Rutland

component: USAO - Vermont

body_text: RUTLAND – The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont announced that on August 19, 2026, a federal grand jury returned a superseding indictment charging Dylin Wainscott a/k/a “Slim,” 30, of Springfield, Massachusetts and Precious Okorie, a/k/a “P,” 32 of Springfield Massachusetts, with the fatal shooting of a victim in Rutland, Vermont on November 15, 2024, in the course of a conspiracy to distribute drugs in Vermont. The indictment also charged Dakota Moretti, 35, of Rutland, Vermont, and Nichole Siliski, 40, of Rutland, Vermont, with participating in that drug distribution conspiracy. Previously, the grand jury returned multiple indictments charging Wainscott with possession of ammunition as a convicted felon on November 15, 2024, charging Wainscott, Okorie, Siliski and Moretti with conspiring to distribute cocaine base and fentanyl, and charging Wainscott and Okorie with discharge of a firearm during the course of that drug conspiracy. A previous indictment also charged Laryssa Johnson, 33, of Rutland, Vermont with participating in the drug conspiracy. Johnson pled guilty to that charge on December 16, 2025. The indictment returned on August 19, 2026, was the first indictment in this case to charge Wainscott and Okorie with causing a death through the discharge of a firearm during the drug conspiracy. Also on August 19, 2026, the U.S. Attorney’s Office filed a notice that it would not be seeking the death penalty in connection with these charges. The defendants have been arrested, arraigned, and detained in connection with other indictments returned in this case and all will be arraigned on the most recent superseding indictment. Wainscott was originally arraigned on May 1, 2025, pleaded not guilty to the charge against him, and was detained pending trial. Okorie was arraigned on July 21, 2026, pleaded not guilty to the charges against him, and was subsequently detained pending trial. Siliski was arraigned on June 25, 2026, pleaded not guilty to the charges against her, and was detained. Moretti was arrested on August 18, 2026, in South Carolina and was detained pending his transportation to Vermont to face charges against him. According to court records, Wainscott shot and killed the victim at around 7:00 p.m. on November 15, 2024, when the victim returned to a Rutland, Vermont apartment. For weeks prior to the shooting, Wainscott had been using that apartment to conduct his drug business in Vermont. Wainscott worked for his supplier and childhood friend, Okorie. Johnson rented that apartment and assisted Wainscott and Okorie in the drug conspiracy. Moretti and Siliski were local drug users and dealers who also worked with Wainscott and Okorie to distribute drugs. Court records state that approximately ten days before the shooting, Wainscott was robbed at the Rutland apartment of drugs and drug proceeds at gunpoint, and pistol-whipped, by a rival drug dealer. Following the robbery, Wainscott, Okorie, and Moretti worked together to locate the dealer and others they believed had stolen Wainscott and Okorie’s drugs and drug proceeds. On November 15, 2024, believing the dealer was at and/or coming to the Rutland apartment, Wainscott worked with Okorie and Moretti to find the person. Just before 7:00 p.m., the ultimate victim, who was not the rival dealer, returned to the apartment. Multiple shots were fired from the area a few houses down, wounding and ultimately killing the victim. Law enforcement found and arrested Wainscott and Okorie later that evening. The United States Attorney’s Office emphasizes that an indictment contains allegations only and that all the charged defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. Okorie and Wainscott face a maximum of life in prison if convicted. Siliski and Moretti face a maximum of 20 years’ imprisonment if convicted. The actual sentences, however, would be determined by the District Court with guidance from the advisory United States Sentencing Guidelines and the statutory sentencing factors. First Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan A. Ophardt commended the investigatory efforts of Homeland Security Investigations and the Rutland Police Department. The prosecutors are Assistant United States Attorneys Michelle Arra and Dana Hill. Wainscott is represented by Jordana M. Levine, Esq. Okorie is represented by William A. Vasiliou, Esq. Siliski is represented by Heather E. Ross, Esq. An attorney has not yet been appointed to represent Moretti.


title: South Hero Man Sentenced to 8 Months for Mail Theft

body_text: RUTLAND – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont stated that on August 18, 2026, Kevin Manning, 43, of South Hero, Vermont, was sentenced by United States District Judge Mary Kay Lanthier to a term of 8 months’ imprisonment to be followed by a 3-year term of supervised release, with the first four months of supervised release to be served on home detention. Manning previously pleaded guilty to three counts of theft or attempted theft of mail, and one count of possession of stolen mail. According to court records, beginning in early December 2025, the Grand Isle Sheriff’s Department began receiving reports from residents of Grand Isle, Vermont that packages which had been shipped to them were missing from their porches and mailboxes. Law enforcement investigated and identified Manning as the likely suspect. On December 24, 2025, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Manning’s residence, recovering approximately 120 items during the search. Manning admitted these were items he had stolen. Following the December 24, 2025 search warrant, Grand Isle Sheriff’s Department received additional reports of missing packages. Law enforcement executed a second search warrant at Manning’s residence on February 13, 2026, and recovered additional items. Manning again admitted to stealing packages. Between the two search warrants, law enforcement recovered stolen goods worth more than $13,000. These goods included winter coats, home safety equipment, medical equipment, prescription medication, and checks. First Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan A. Ophardt commended the collaborative investigatory efforts of the United States Postal Inspection Service, the Grand Isle Sheriff’s Department, Vermont State Police, Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department, and the Essex Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Katherine Flynn. Manning was represented by Federal Public Defender Alejandro Fernandez.


title: Over 200,000 Fentanyl Pills Taken Off Utah Streets During Two Separate Unrelated Seizures

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Two Mexican Nationals, one of whom is an illegal alien, were indicted by a federal grand jury after they were arrested and charged in two separate and unrelated cases that led to the seizure of approximately 204,000 fentanyl pills in one week. Jesus Alexis Cecena Cota, 22, of Mexico, residing illegally in West Jordan, Utah; and Ricardo Verduzco Bernal, 54, of West Valley City, Utah, were charged in two separate complaints August 13, 2026. In the case involving Cota, according to allegations contained in court documents, in July 2026, the FBI Wasatch Metro Drug Task Force initiated a criminal investigation on Cota and co-conspirators, both known and unknown, associated with a drug trafficking organization believed to be distributing large quantities of fentanyl and other narcotics in the District of Utah. On August 11, 2026, agents executed a search warrant on a residence, vehicle, and storage unit in West Valley City allegedly used by Cota for the distribution of narcotics. During the search of the vehicle, agents recovered and seized approximately 1.44 grams of field-tested positive methamphetamine on Cota. At the storge unit, agents recovered and seized approximately 9,351.45 grams of field-tested positive fentanyl. Agents estimated the evidence to be approximately 93,000 fentanyl pills. At Cota’s residence, agents located and seized 21.7 grams of field-tested positive fentanyl, U.S. currency, and a suspected drug ledger. In the case involving Bernal, according to allegations contained in court documents, in August 2026, the FBI Wasatch Metro Drug Task Force initiated a criminal investigation on Bernal and co-conspirators, both known and unknown, associated with a drug trafficking organization believed to be distributing large quantities of fentanyl and other narcotics in the District of Utah. In August 2026, agents conducted a controlled purchase of fentanyl from Bernal. As a result of the controlled purchase, agents obtained and executed a search warrant on a hotel room in Salt Lake County, Utah. On August 12, 2026, agents executed the search warrant, and Bernal was alone inside the room where agents located and seized approximately 11,160.65 grams of field-tested positive fentanyl. Agents estimated the fentanyl evidence to be approximately 111,000 fentanyl pills. According to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Bernal is in the United States on a visitor visa. Cota and Bernal are both charged, in separate and unrelated indictments, with possession of fentanyl with intent to distribute. Cota is scheduled for a jury trial on August 27, 2026, and Bernal is scheduled for a jury trial on August 26, 2026, before a U.S. Magistrate Court Judge at the Orrin G. Hatch United States Courthouse in downtown Salt Lake City. Both cases are investigated by the FBI Wasatch Metro Drug Task Force (WMDTF). Valuable assistance is provided by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). 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. An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Illegal Alien from France Indicted After Alleged Discriminatory Threats to a Car Dealership Employee and Bulk Store Employee

body_text: St. George, Utah – An illegal alien from French Guiana, France, is in federal custody after a federal grand jury in St. George returned an indictment charging him with federal crimes after he allegedly made multiple discriminatory and threatening phone calls to a bulk store employee and a car dealership employee. Ramchand Rattan, 44, residing illegally in Las Vegas, Nevada, was indicted on August 11, 2026. According to allegations in court documents, between May 6, 2025 and May 24, 2025, Rattan made multiple threatening phone calls to an employee of a car dealership in St. George. The victim said he assisted two people, one of whom was later identified as Rattan, on May 6, 2025. The victim said the two took a couple of test drives and during the interaction, Rattan noticed the victim spoke with an accent and asked him where he was from. The victim said he was originally from Britain. A few days later, Rattan called the dealership and asked for the victim. Because the victim was not on the lot at the time, the employee gave Rattan the victim’s personal phone number. The victim then received multiple phone calls from Rattan. If the victim answered, Rattan would make accusations and threats and at times leave voicemails doing the same. Messages included Ratan stating on May 11, 2025, that he would “bust your f****** head” and “shoot you in your f****** head.” In the second message on May 12, 2026, Rattan said, “I will murder you!” and that he would “follow you all over the United States and murder you!” Rattan also threatened to go to the dealership that afternoon and murder the victim. Most recently, according to allegations in court documents, between January 17, 2026, and January 21, 2026, Rattan made multiple threatening phone calls to a bulk store employee in St. George. Employees reported that the male suspect spoke with an accent and demanded that a homosexual black employee he recently interacted with at the store be fired. Rattan allegedly used derogatory names for homosexuals and black people during the calls and threatened if black or homosexual employees were not fired, Rattan would blow up or burn the store down. In a recorded call, Rattan said “I’m going to turn your place into a BBQ joint. I’m going to light it up like a BBQ joint.” According to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Rattan is currently in the United States illegally with a pending asylum claim. Rattan is charged with two counts of interstate communications with a threat to injure. His detention hearing is scheduled for August 25, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. before a U.S. Magistrate Court Judge in courtroom 2B at the courthouse located at 206 West Tabernacle Street, St. George, Utah 84470. United States Attorney Melissa Holyoak of the District of Utah made the announcement. The case is being investigated by the St. George Police Department and the FBI Salt Lake City Field Office’s St. George Resident Agency. Assistant United States Attorney Chris Burton for the District of Utah is prosecuting the case. 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. An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. Attachments: rattan_indictment.pdf rattan_pos_reg_detention.pdf


title: Ohio Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Federal Drug Crime

component: USAO - West Virginia, Southern

body_text: CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Enouch Jairus Kermue, 37, of Columbus, Ohio, was sentenced today to 10 years in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release, for distribution of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. Born in Liberia and not a United States citizen, Kermue is subject to a pending final removal order and will be transferred to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) administrative custody upon the conclusion of his criminal case. According to court documents and statements made in court, on November 20, 2024, Kermue sold approximately 212 grams of methamphetamine to a confidential informant while in a vehicle parked outside a Parkersburg, West Virginia, business. Investigators determined Kermue distributed large quantities of methamphetamine sourced directly from the Sinaloa Cartel to other dealers who redistributed it in the Parkersburg area and beyond. Kermue has a criminal history that includes prior convictions for aggravated theft, robbery, assault, and conspiracy to commit wire fraud. United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Parkersburg Violent Crimes and Narcotics Task Force, the Wood County Sheriff’s Office, and the Columbus, Ohio, Police Department. United States District Judge Thomas E. Johnston imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Jeremy B. Wolfe prosecuted the case. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:26-cr-17. ###


title: Montgomery County man admits to producing child sexual abuse material

component: USAO - Texas, Southern

body_text: HOUSTON – A 34-year-old Willis resident has pleaded guilty to production and distribution of child pornography. Authorities identified Jesse Thomas Raines in 2023 when investigating activity on social media. As part of an undercover operation in June 2023, Raines communicated through an internet chat application. During the conversation, Raines distributed child sexual abuse material, also known as CSAM, and displayed his screenshot folder in an attempt to show he was not saving the chat. Investigators identified information in several screenshots that revealed Raines’s identity and where he lived. Based on the evidence, law enforcement obtained and executed a search warrant at his Willis residence. Raines admitted he had sexually abused a minor victim for years and produced videos and photographs documenting the abuse. Law enforcement also seized multiple electronic devices from the residence. A forensic examination of an external drive revealed a folder bearing the victim’s name that contained illicit files created between March 2019 and May 2023. Investigators also discovered additional CSAM on a laptop seized during the search. “Raines is a deplorable, child-abusing monster, and now the justice system has rightly deemed him for what he is: guilty,” said U.S. Attorney Aaron Reitz. “The good news is that, now, there’s one less sicko on the streets. The bad news is that there are many more out there. My office will hunt them down and keep our kids safe.” “This confessed child rapist callously sexually abused a 7-year-old and produced imagery of the abuse to share online, falsely believing that encrypted chats would shield him from getting caught,” said Homeland Security Investigations Houston Special Agent in Charge Lucia Cabral-DeArmas. “Thanks to the ingenuity of our special agents and the unbelievable assistance that we receive from our partners at the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, we were able to unmask Mr. Raines and remove him from the local community before he could harm anymore children.” U.S. District Judge Charles Eskridge will impose sentencing Dec. 17. At that time, Raines faces up to 50 years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine. He has been and will remain in custody pending sentencing. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation, with the assistance of Montgomery County Constable’s Office, Precinct 1. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stephanie Bauman, Luis Batarse, and Colton Turner are prosecuting the case, which was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative the Department of Justice launched in May 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section leads PSC, which marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children and identifies and rescues victims. For more information about PSC, please visit DOJ’s PSC page . For more information about internet safety education, please visit the resources tab on that page .


title: Six Defendants Charged With  Million Dollar Rental Car And Identity Theft Scheme

component: USAO - New York, Southern

body_text: United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jamie McDonald, Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), James C. Barnacle, Jr., and Commissioner of the New York City Police Department (“NYPD”), Jessica S. Tisch, announced today charges against KAHEEM ARCHER, CALVIN BENT, CHRISTINE FERGUSON, LAMONT MARTIN, AJANI MCCHRISTON, and CHAD REED in connection with a multi-year scheme to steal rental cars worth millions of dollars using stolen credit cards and forged driver’s licenses. Each of the six defendants is charged with conspiracy to receive, possess, and dispose of stolen vehicles; conspiracy to commit wire fraud; and aggravated identity theft. All six defendants were arrested today and presented in Manhattan federal court before U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert W. Lehrburger. “Identity theft has no place in our community, and it impacts and harms New Yorkers and others in many different ways,” said U.S. Attorney Jamie McDonald. “As alleged, the six defendants charged today traveled up and down the East Coast, picking up rental cars using credit cards obtained with the identities of innocent victims to further a variety of schemes, including the use of rental cars to commit violent crimes in our community. These charges not only bring that scheme to an end but also send a broader message that the women and men of this Office, in coordination with our law enforcement partners, will continue to investigate and pursue criminals who seek to use the identities of unwitting and innocent victims to enrich themselves and commit crimes.” “The alleged rental car and identify theft scheme in this investigation resulted in the loss of millions of dollars from innocent victims,” said FBI Assistant Director in Charge James C. Barnacle, Jr. “Crimes involving stolen identities and large-scale financial loss undermine public trust and cause harm to those impacted. In support of the Vice President's Fraud Task Force, FBI New York will continue to work diligently to protect the public from fraud in all its forms. “As alleged in the complaint, these six defendants used stolen credit cards and forged driver’s licenses to steal millions of dollars in stolen vehicles, some of which were later used in violent crimes,” said NYPD Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch. “Today, we shut this criminal operation down and remind those who attempt to use our city as a playground for criminal activity that they will face consequences. Thank you to our NYPD investigators whose relentless work dismantled this scheme, and our partners at the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York for ensuring that these individuals are held accountable. As alleged in the Complaint and other public filings:(1) From at least September 2023 to the present, ARCHER, BENT, FERGUSON, MARTIN, MCCHRISTON, and REED stole rental cars across the Northeastern United States from multiple rental car companies by using stolen credit cards and fraudulent driver’s licenses bearing the defendants’ photographs but victims’ names. For over three years, the defendants executed the charged scheme by reserving and picking up rental cars under stolen identities, charging the rentals to the victims’ credit cards, and then transporting the cars to the Bronx or Manhattan, New York, often on the same day. Multiple defendants carried out these thefts in close succession at the same rental locations. None of the cars were returned, and several were later recovered in connection with violent crimes or found operated by suspects of violent crimes. * * * ARCHER, 29, of Brooklyn, New York; BENT, 24, of Brooklyn; FERGUSON, 27, of Brooklyn; MARTIN, 26, of Staten Island, New York; MCCHRISTON, 33, of Brooklyn; and REED, 27, of Brooklyn, are each charged with one count of conspiracy to receive, possess, and dispose of stolen vehicles, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison; one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison; and one count of aggravated identity theft, which carries a mandatory sentence of two years in prison. 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 a judge. Mr. McDonald praised the outstanding investigative work of the FBI and NYPD, including the FBI / NYPD New York Joint Major Theft Task Force. Mr. McDonald also thanked the Northampton, Massachusetts Police Department; Verona, New Jersey Police Department; Collegeville, Pennsylvania Police Department; Newark, Delaware Police Department; Greenwich, Connecticut Police Department; Delaware State Police, New York State Police, and the U.S. Customs and Border Protection for their valuable assistance. The case is being handled by the Office’s General Crimes Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Leslie B. Arffa and Matthew T. Souza are in charge of the prosecution. The charges contained in the Complaint 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 Complaint and the description of the Complaint set forth herein constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.


title: Senior Executive Charged With Insider Trading

body_text: United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jamie McDonald, announced today the unsealing of an Indictment charging JESUS LUIS MORELL, a senior executive at HEICO Corporation (“HEICO”), with three counts of securities fraud stemming from multiple instances of insider trading based on misappropriated financial information belonging to his employer. MORELL was presented today before U.S. District Judge Jared M. Strauss in the Southern District of Florida. “Luis Morell allegedly misappropriated confidential information obtained from his employer and used it for his personal benefit,” said U.S. Attorney Jamie McDonald. “Protecting the integrity of our financial markets is a core priority of this Office, and we will continue to keep a watchful eye over anyone who seeks to undermine the integrity of those markets.” As alleged in the Indictment unsealed today in Manhattan federal court:(1) MORELL was the President of two significant subsidiaries of HEICO and a member of the Board of Directors for a third subsidiary. HEICO maintained policies prohibiting employees from trading in HEICO stock while in possession of material nonpublic information, which policies MORELL acknowledged he understood on an annual basis. Notwithstanding MORELL’s certifications that he would abide by HEICO’s insider trading policies, on two separate occasions in 2022 and 2025, MORELL purchased Class A common stock of HEICO in advance of the public quarterly earnings release but after receiving material non-public information concerning HEICO’s actual or forecasted earnings for the quarter. Following the public release of HEICO’s quarterly earnings information—which included financial data that was the same or very similar to the data MORELL received before purchasing HEICO stock—the price of HEICO’s Class A shares rose and MORELL quickly sold all of the shares he had purchased for a significant profit. In total, MORELL made more than $1.8 million in illicit profits by trading HEICO stock based on material, nonpublic information he misappropriated from his employer. * * * MORELL, 64, of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, is charged with two counts of securities fraud, each of which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison; and one count of securities fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 25 years in prison. The maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge. Mr. McDonald thanked the FBI. Mr. McDonald also thanked the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority. This case is being handled by the Office’s Securities and Commodities Fraud Task Force. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael S. DiBattista is in charge of the prosecution. The charges contained in the Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. ^ As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Complaints and the description of the Complaints set forth herein constitutes only allegations and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.


title: Four Members Of The “War Room” Charged In Connection With $12 Million Medicaid Fraud Scheme

body_text: United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jamie McDonald, Assistant Attorney General of the Justice Department’s National Fraud Enforcement Division, Colin M. McDonald, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (“HSI”), Pete Gizas, Special Agent in Charge of the New York Regional Office of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (“HHS-OIG”), Naomi D. Gruchacz, Inspector in Charge of the New York Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (“USPIS”), Ketty Larco-Ward, and Comptroller for the Office of the New York State Comptroller, Thomas P. DiNapoli, announced today the unsealing of a nine-count Indictment charging LOUIS TREJO, a/k/a “Machete,” KENNETH GARNER, a/k/a “KG,” HAROLD STEVENSON, a/k/a “Bazz,” and ERIHK BELIS, a/k/a “Eddie,” with racketeering, violence in aid of racketeering, firearms, fraud, narcotics, and money laundering offenses for their roles in a wide ranging racketeering conspiracy involving the fabrication of transportation data used to support over at least $12 million of fraudulent Medicaid claims. The defendants, members of a Bronx-based racketeering organization known as the “War Room,” logged fake rides for Medicaid patients to and from methadone clinics in the Bronx, paid recurring kickbacks to Medicaid patients in cash and drugs, and laundered millions of dollars in fraud proceeds obtained from the scheme. To protect and expand their racketeering conspiracy, TREJO, GARNER, and other members of the War Room also engaged in violence against their rivals, including a January 12, 2024, armed home invasion robbery of the leader of a rival fraud ring in Teaneck, New Jersey. TREJO, GARNER, AND BELIS were arrested this morning and are expected to be arraigned today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert W. Lehrburger in Manhattan federal court. STEVENSON remains at large. The case is assigned to District Judge John G. Koeltl. “As alleged, members of the War Room perpetrated a massive fraud scheme that preyed upon the addiction of vulnerable Medicaid patients, defrauded a vital federal healthcare program, and caused over $12 million in losses to American taxpayers,” said U.S. Attorney Jamie McDonald. “To protect and grow their scheme, War Room members allegedly peddled deadly drugs, committed an armed robbery against a rival fraud ring, and laundered their profits. Today’s arrests dismantled the War Room’s racketeering operation and demonstrate that we will relentlessly pursue those who defraud federal benefit programs and endanger our communities through drugs and violence.” “Today’s allegations underscore the troubling connection between benefits fraud and violent criminal networks,” said Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald. “As charged, the defendants are accused of targeting vulnerable patients, defrauding a critical healthcare program, and turning to violence to protect their fraudulent scheme. I commend the prosecutors and agents of the Southern District of New York for their dedicated work in bringing these serious allegations forward.” “These defendants are accused of masterminding a brazen scheme built on greed and exploitation, turning Medicaid-funded addiction treatment transportation into a multimillion-dollar criminal pipeline through fake ride data, GPS spoofing, kickbacks, narcotics, and money laundering,” said HSI Acting Special Agent in Charge Pete Gizas. “Far from a victimless fraud, this alleged racketeering operation exploited vulnerable patients seeking treatment, stole from a taxpayer-funded healthcare program, and injected narcotics and violence into the criminal enterprise. When their profits were threatened, members of the ‘War Room’ allegedly escalated to armed violence, including with a home invasion during which victims were restrained, assaulted, cut, and held at gunpoint. As a co-leader of the Homeland Security Task Force, HSI New York will continue working relentlessly with our partners to expose violent fraud enterprises, disrupt their financial networks, and hold alleged perpetrators accountable.” “The alleged scheme exploited individuals seeking addiction treatment and diverted millions in federal health care funds,” said HHS-OIG Special Agent in Charge Naomi D. Gruchacz. “This investigation highlights our commitment to working with Homeland Security Investigations and other law enforcement partners to pursue fraudsters who undermine the Medicaid program and the needs of its enrollees.” “Today’s arrests send a clear message: exploiting Medicaid for personal gain will not be tolerated,” said USPIS Inspector in Charge Ketty Larco-Ward. “These individuals allegedly stole millions from a program designed to protect some of our most vulnerable citizens, and in doing so, betrayed the trust of the public. Postal Inspectors will defend against all types of fraudsters, and I commend the hard work and partnership of our federal and state partners to ensure all are held fully accountable under the law.” “These defendants allegedly engaged in a systematic fabrication of data and kickbacks to steal over $12 million at the expense of New Yorkers in need,” said New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli. “Medicaid is a vital program, and my office will continue to work with law enforcement to hold people who try to defraud it accountable. I thank the United States Attorney and federal law enforcement for their work with my office to bring these defendants to justice.” As alleged in the Indictment:(1) From at least in or about 2023 through at least in or about 2025, the defendants, led by TREJO and GARNER, operated the War Room, a criminal enterprise responsible for generating fake ride data used to support millions of dollars in fraudulent reimbursement claims to Medicaid for methadone clinic transportation services. The defendants operated out of an office in TREJO’s residence they referred to as the “War Room,” and engaged in, among other things, criminal acts involving wire fraud, healthcare fraud, violations of the Anti-Kickback Statute, narcotics distribution, robbery, firearms use, and money laundering. To obfuscate their criminal activity, the defendants operated the War Room under the guise of a legitimate charity they called the “Forward Foundation.” In reality, the Forward Foundation was a front for the criminal activities of the War Room. An organizational chart drawn on a white board located inside TREJO’s residence, depicted below, identified each defendant’s nominal role. TREJO, identified as “Lou,” is the “CEO.” GARNER, identified as “KG,” is the “COO.” STEVENSON, identified as “Bazz,” is an “outreach member m[ana]g[e]r.” BELIS, identified as “Erihk,” is “Vice President.” To generate fake ride data to support fraudulent Medicaid claims, the defendants recruited Medicaid-eligible patients from methadone clinics located in the Bronx and Manhattan to sign up for medical transportation rides that are reimbursable by Medicaid, but which were not actually provided to the patients. The defendants entered the patients’ names and information into cellphones equipped with a ride-tracking application meant to be used by drivers to log actual rides. Members of the War Room then used the cellphones to log rides for the patients without providing any actual transportation services. To cover up the fact that the ride data was fabricated, the defendants used a GPS “spoofing” application to falsify the GPS coordinates associated with the pickup and drop-off locations, to make the location data appear as if the rides had been provided. In exchange for the use of the Medicaid patients’ enrollment information, the defendants paid the patients, who were meant to be receiving taxpayer-funded addiction treatment, weekly kickbacks in cash and drugs, including fentanyl and heroin. Using these methods, the War Room’s fraud scheme generated data for hundreds of fake rides per week, which were provided to various collusive New York-area transportation companies, which in turn submitted the fake data to Medicaid to justify the fraudulent claims. The defendants were compensated by the transportation companies for whom they generated fake ride data and then laundered the proceeds to conceal their source and nature. The War Room’s fake rides scheme generated millions of dollars in fraudulent Medicaid claims for the transportation companies. For example, from in or about 2023 through in or about 2025, three transportation companies that made direct payments to the War Room collectively submitted over $12 million in “unmatched” Medicaid claims—that is, claims for medical transportation services for which no medical provider submitted corresponding claims reflecting actual medical services provided. Multiple fraud rings competed for the same patients at the same methadone clinics. To protect the War Room’s profits and expand their reach, TREJO and GARNER directed other members of the War Room to commit a home invasion robbery against the leader of a rival Medicaid fraud ring (“Victim-1”) at Victim-1’s home in Teaneck, New Jersey, believing that Victim‑1 kept millions of dollars in cash fraud proceeds and drugs inside his home. On or about January 12, 2024, at the direction of TREJO and GARNER, members of the War Room committed the violent home robbery. Masked and armed with a gun, members and associates of the War Room entered Victim-1’s residence while others waited outside as lookouts. Inside, the robbers used zip ties to tie up the occupants of the residence, including Victim‑1, pistol-whipped one of the occupants, intentionally cut Victim-1’s hands, and held the victims at gunpoint for multiple hours. The robbery crew did not find the large stash of cash or drugs that GARNER and TREJO expected but fled with approximately $25,000 in cash and other assorted items. * * * A chart identifying the names, ages, charges, and maximum penalties for the defendants, each of whom resides in the Bronx, is set forth below. The statutory minimum and 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 a judge. Mr. McDonald praised the outstanding investigative work of Homeland Security Investigations, the Office of the Inspector General of the Department of Health and Human Services, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the New York City Police Department, the Office of the New York State Comptroller, and the Bergen County, New Jersey Prosecutor’s Office (“BCPO”), the BCPO Special Investigations Squad, the Teaneck, New Jersey Police Department, as well as the Special Agents and Task Force Officers assigned to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York. This case is being handled by the Office’s Narcotics Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys William C. Kinder, Mostafa Khairy, and Patrick J. Gallagher are in charge of the prosecution. The charges contained in the Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. Count Defendants Minium & Maximum Penalties Racketeering Conspiracy LOUIS TREJO (43) KENNETH GARNER (48) HAROLD STEVENSON (59) ERIHK BELIS (50) Maximum sentence of 20 years in prison Assault with a Deadly Weapon in Aid of Racketeering LOUIS TREJO (43) KENNETH GARNER (48) Maximum sentence of 20 years in prison Firearms Use LOUIS TREJO (43) KENNETH GARNER (48) Mandatory minimum of seven years in prison Maximum sentence of life in prison Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud & Health Care Fraud LOUIS TREJO (43) KENNETH GARNER (48) HAROLD STEVENSON (59) ERIHK BELIS (50) Maximum sentence of 20 years in prison Wire Fraud LOUIS TREJO (43) KENNETH GARNER (48) HAROLD STEVENSON (59) ERIHK BELIS (50) Maximum sentence of 20 years in prison Health Care Fraud LOUIS TREJO (43) KENNETH GARNER (48) HAROLD STEVENSON (59) ERIHK BELIS (50) Maximum sentence of 10 years in prison Conspiracy to Violate the Anti-Kickback Statute LOUIS TREJO (43) KENNETH GARNER (48) HAROLD STEVENSON (59) ERIHK BELIS (50) Maximum sentence of five years in prison Narcotics Conspiracy LOUIS TREJO (43) KENNETH GARNER (48) Maximum sentence of 20 years in prison Money Laundering Conspiracy LOUIS TREJO (43) KENNETH GARNER (48) HAROLD STEVENSON (59) Maximum sentence of 20 years in prison ^ As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Indictment and the description of the Indictment set forth herein constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.


title: Founder Of Fashion Tech Company CaaStle Sentenced To Five Years In Prison For $300 Million Fraud Scheme

body_text: United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jamie McDonald, announced today that CHRISTINE HUNSICKER was sentenced to five years in prison for securities fraud. HUNSICKER previously pled guilty to one count of securities fraud in connection with a scheme to defraud hundreds of investors in CaaStle, a retail-technology business before U.S. District Judge J. Paul Oetken, who imposed today’s sentence. “Christine Hunsicker perpetrated a large-scale fraud at CaaStle, falsely promoting her fashion-tech startup as a billion-dollar success when it was a counterfeit,” said U.S. Attorney Jamie McDonald. “Using forged documents and fabricated audits, Hunsicker stole $300 million from unwitting investors who believed her falsehoods. Besides harming investors in private markets, fraud in the startup space stunts growth and dims innovation. The women and men of this Office will work tirelessly to protect those investors and ensure integrity in those markets, so that innovation can thrive, and those who seek to undermine the integrity of those markets will face justice.” According to the Indictment and other information in the public record: Between 2019 and 2025, HUNSICKER, a well-known entrepreneur and businessperson in the fashion-tech industry, orchestrated a massive fraud scheme in which she duped investors into giving her nearly $300 million for CaaStle, a retail technology company she founded and led as CEO. While promoting CaaStle as a rapidly growing business valued at more than $1.4 billion, HUNSICKER knew that CaaStle was in financial distress with dwindling cash and significant expenses. To raise capital for CaaStle’s operations, HUNSICKER provided investors with falsified income statements, fake audited financial statements, fictitious bank records, and sham corporate documents that grossly overstated CaaStle’s operating profit, revenue, and available cash. She also misrepresented to investors that their funds would be used to purchase discounted shares from existing shareholders who needed liquidity, when in fact she fabricated the existence of those shareholders and used the money as new capital for CaaStle while concealing the company’s cash needs. When confronted by an audit firm in October 2023 about transmitting a fake audit to an investor, HUNSICKER lied, falsely claiming that she had created the fake audit in connection with a lecture she gave at Princeton University, and that sending the audit to the investor had been a one-time error. She later repaid that investor to prevent the public disclosure of her fraud and continued furnishing fake financials to investors. In 2024, HUNSICKER also falsified the signatures of two prominent Board directors to make it appear that the Board had authorized the grant of stock options to another investor, raising more than $20 million for CaaStle. In October 2024, HUNSICKER provided yet another investor with a fake draft audit. HUNSICKER tried to pay off that investor, but he refused. In December 2024, the CaaStle Board removed HUNSICKER as Chair and prohibited her from soliciting investments. Undeterred, HUNSICKER continued her fraudulent activities. She raised, and attempted to raise, new capital for CaaStle and P180, a related business venture. In February 2025, HUNSICKER attempted to sell an additional $19 million of her CaaStle shares to another investor. HUNSICKER persisted in her deceptive practices even after law enforcement agents seized her electronic devices in March 2025, continuing to meet with the investor about a fake audit without revealing its fraudulent nature, her removal from the Board, or the prohibition against her selling shares. CaaStle filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy on June 20, 2025. * * * In addition to the prison term, HUNSCIKER, 49, of Lafayette, New Jersey, was sentenced to three years of supervised release. HUNSICKER was ordered to pay forfeiture and restitution to her victims, each in the amount of $283,291,940. Mr. McDonald praised the outstanding work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Mr. McDonald also thanked the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission for its assistance in the investigation. The case is being handled by the Office’s Securities and Commodities Fraud Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Marguerite B. Colson and Alexandra N. Rothman are in charge of the prosecution


title: Finance Director Charged With Insider Trading

body_text: United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jamie McDonald, and Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), James C. Barnacle, Jr., announced today the unsealing of an Indictment charging JESSE MITCHELL with securities fraud. The charges arise from an alleged insider trading scheme in which MITCHELL traded on misappropriated material nonpublic information ahead of public earnings announcements by his then-employer, The Trade Desk (“TTD”) and, as a result, generated more than $338,000 in profits. MITCHELL was arrested today and will be presented in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California. The case has been assigned to U.S. District Judge Jennifer H. Rearden. “Jesse Mitchell allegedly stole confidential information from his employer and made more than $300,000 in illegal trades,” said U.S. Attorney Jamie McDonald. “Confidential information is not a personal profit opportunity, and today’s unsealing of the indictment makes that clear. Importantly, insider trading not only harms investors and the companies from which the information was misappropriated, it undermines the public’s trust in our markets. This Office will continue to combat insider trading in order to vindicate victims’ rights and ensure the integrity of our markets.” “Jesse Mitchell’s alleged insider trading is fundamentally wrong,” said FBI Assistant Director in Charge James C. Barnacle, Jr. “FBI New York's Financial Crimes Task Force is working every day to identify and investigate financial crimes, including insider trading. In alignment with the Vice President’s Fraud Task Force, FBI New York will continue working diligently to protect the public from fraud in all its forms.” According to the allegations in the Indictment:(1) Around June 2024, MITCHELL began working at TTD, a publicly-traded multinational technology company, as a Senior Director in TTD’s financial planning and analysis team. In that role, MITCHELL had access to TTD’s confidential financial information and results, including revenue and earnings results and other financial metrics, before they were publicly disclosed. By virtue of his employment, MITCHELL owed a duty of trust and confidence to TTD and was prohibited from misusing or disclosing TTD’s confidential information for personal gain. MITCHELL was also prohibited by company policy from trading in any security while in possession of material nonpublic information relating to that security; trading in TTD securities during quarterly “blackout” periods preceding earnings announcements; and trading TTD options, including put or call options. In August 2024, TTD published financial results for the second quarter of 2024 that exceeded its previously disclosed revenue estimate. Following the announcement, TTD’s stock price increased approximately 12%. During a trading blackout period in advance of TTD’s earnings announcement, MITCHELL purchased TTD stock. At the time, MITCHELL was aware of TTD’s nonpublic quarterly financial results. After TTD’s public earnings announcement, MITCHELL sold the shares, netting approximately $19,696.11 in profits from his illegal trading. In February 2025, TTD published financial results for the fourth quarter of 2024 that fell below its previously disclosed revenue estimate. This marked the first time TTD had missed revenue expectations since going public in 2016. Following the announcement, TTD’s stock price dropped approximately 30%. During a trading blackout period in advance of TTD’s earnings announcement, MITCHELL purchased TTD put options. At the time, MITCHELL was aware of TTD’s nonpublic quarterly financial results. After TTD’s public earnings announcement MITCHELL sold all his TTD put options, realizing approximately $318,362.45 in profits from his illegal trading. * * * MITCHELL, 48, of Ventura, CA, is charged with one count of securities fraud under Title 15, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison; and one count of securities fraud under Title 18, which carries a maximum sentence of 25 years in prison. The maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge. Mr. McDonald thanked the FBI. Mr. McDonald further thanked the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority. This case is being handled by the Office’s Securities and Commodities Fraud Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Justin V. Rodriguez and Christy Slavik are in charge of the prosecution. The charges contained in the Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. ^ As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Indictment and the description of the Indictment set forth herein constitute only allegations, and every fact described therein should be treated as an allegation.


title: Beech Grove Sex Offender Sentenced to 17 Years in Federal Prison

component: USAO - Indiana, Southern

body_text: INDIANAPOLIS- Shane Austin Leaneagh, 37, of Beech Grove, has been sentenced to 17 years and one month in federal prison, followed by a lifetime of supervised release after pleading guilty to possession and distribution of child sexual abuse material. Leaneagh was also ordered to pay $34,000 in restitution. According to court documents, beginning on August 6, 2023, Leaneagh began distributing images and videos depicting children engaged in sexually explicit conduct using seven different accounts via the social media application, Kik. On January 10, 2024, officers with the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department and the Beach Grove Police Department executed search warrants for Leaneagh and his Beech Grove home. Investigators located electronic devices, revealing more than 600 images and videos depicting the sexual abuse of numerous children, including infants and children under the age of twelve. In 2022, Leaneagh was convicted of possession of child sexual abuse material in Monroe County, Indiana. In that case, he used his cellphone to take sexually explicit images of a seven-year-old child while she slept, which the child’s mother later discovered. Additionally, Leaneagh sustained a conviction for intimidation in April 2022 in Jackson County, Indiana. That conviction stemmed from messages he sent to a former coworker in which he threatened to commit sexual acts with her and insinuated that he had been stalking her. The FBI Indianapolis and U.S. Secret Service investigated this case, with assistance from IMPD. The sentence was imposed by Chief District Judge James R. Sweeney II. “Leaneagh’s behavior was despicable, targeting our children for his own sick purposes,” said U.S. Attorney Tom Wheeler for the Southern District of Indiana. “These files show children so young they could not have understood what was happening, yet their abuse will be circulated among predators over and over, leading to repeated victimization because of offenders like Leaneagh. We are extremely grateful to our law enforcement partners who work day and night to stop people like him from exploiting our children.” “The harm child sexual abuse material causes innocent victims is heartbreaking, especially when the victims are as young as infants,” said Special Agent in Charge Ike Barnes of the U.S. Secret Service Indianapolis Field Office. “Holding offenders accountable for distributing these vile images and videos, particularly repeat offenders, helps protect victims from further harm and makes our communities safer. The Secret Service remains committed to working with our law enforcement partners to protect victims and pursue those who seek to exploit them. We thank the FBI and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Indiana for their collaboration in this important case.” U.S. Attorney Wheeler thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Carolyn A. Haney, 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 ###


title: Lake Worth Man Pleads Guilty to Attempting to Entice 15-Year-Old for Sexual Activity

component: USAO - Florida, Southern

body_text: MIAMI – A Lake Worth man has pleaded guilty to attempting to entice a 15-year-old girl to engage in sexual activity, sending sexually explicit images of himself to minors, and possessing child sexual abuse material (CSAM). According to court records, Nicholas John Dinapoli, 30, who used the alias “demondon_666,” exchanged messages in September 2025 with someone he believed to be a 15-year-old girl. During the exchanges, Dinapoli sent sexually explicit images of himself and requested images in return. Dinapoli also discussed sexual activity he wanted to engage in with the purported 15-year-old and discussed meeting her in person for that purpose. “Adults who use the internet to sexualize, manipulate, and pursue children will find federal law enforcement on the other side of the screen,” said U.S. Attorney Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida. “Nicholas Dinapoli repeatedly targeted minors, sent them obscene material, and sought sexual contact with a child. Protecting children from online exploitation is a top priority, and we will relentlessly pursue those who prey on them.” During the same period, Dinapoli exchanged messages with a 13-year-old girl and sent her a sexually explicit image of himself, knowing that she was under 16. In or around October 2024, Dinapoli also communicated through a social media application with another girl who was 16 to 17 years old and whom he believed to be 16. During those communications, the girl sent Dinapoli sexually explicit images of herself. During the execution of a search warrant at Dinapoli’s residence, law enforcement searched his electronic devices and found CSAM involving the 16-to-17-year-old girl saved on his phone. A review of Dinapoli’s social media account also revealed that he had engaged in sexual communications with at least two other minors, as well as additional inappropriate online encounters with girls who appeared to be under 18. Dinapoli pleaded guilty to one count of attempted coercion and enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity, one count of attempted transfer of obscene material to a minor, one count of transfer of obscene material to a minor, and one count of possession of visual depictions involving the sexual exploitation of minors. He faces a maximum sentence of life in federal prison on the attempted enticement count, up to 10 years in prison on each obscene material count, and up to 10 years in prison on the possession count. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. U.S. Attorney Reding Quiñones and Special Agent in Charge Brett Skiles of the FBI, Miami Field Office, made the announcement. FBI Miami, West Palm Beach Resident Agency, is investigating the case with assistance from FBI New York. Assistant U.S. Attorney Katie Wilson is prosecuting 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 CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit www.justice.gov/psc . Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov , under case number 26-cr-80087. ###


title: Homeland Security Task Force: Ten Defendants Sentenced in South Florida Cocaine Trafficking Conspiracy

body_text: MIAMI – Ten defendants have been sentenced to federal prison for their roles in a South Florida cocaine trafficking conspiracy that involved cocaine supplied by a Mexican drug cartel and others. U.S. District Judge Darrin P. Gayles sentenced Reinaldo Fernandez, 63, to 188 months in federal prison; Javier Garcia-Mora, 40, to 60 months; Michel Garcia, 50, to 57 months; Renier Mendez, 46, to 57 months; Elvis Alfonso, 40, to 64 months; Alfredo Miranda, 63, to 70 months; Yaniel Cardenal Frias, 32, to 75 months; and Jorge Victor Herrero Gamez, 33, to 82 months. Each pleaded guilty to conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine. Alberto Gonzalez, 39, was sentenced to 60 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine. Daniel Gerardo Torres, 55, was sentenced to 21 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine. “Mexican drug cartels do not get to establish a foothold in South Florida,” said U.S. Attorney Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida. “This organization brought cartel-supplied cocaine into our communities, moved drugs and bulk cash across the country, and even had a cartel representative sent to Miami to oversee its interests. Ten defendants are now headed to federal prison. Through the Homeland Security Task Force, we will continue dismantling these networks from the cartel to the street and holding everyone involved accountable.” According to court records, from at least September 2024 through September 2025, the defendants participated in a cocaine trafficking conspiracy operating throughout South Florida. Fernandez and other co-conspirators obtained cocaine from a Mexican drug cartel and other sources. Garcia-Mora, a Mexican national who was illegally present in the U.S., was sent to Miami by members of the cartel to oversee its interests in South Florida. Garcia, Mendez, and Alfonso served as drivers for the organization, transporting cocaine and bulk U.S. currency throughout the U.S. Miranda, Cardenal Frias, Herrero Gamez, Gonzalez, and Torres bought and sold cocaine to and from Fernandez and others in South Florida. As part of the investigation, law enforcement seized over $450,000 in narcotics proceeds. Juan Miguel Torna Rojas, William Padron Perez, and Ricardo Oramas Valdes remain fugitives. U.S. Attorney Reding Quiñones and Special Agent in Charge Miles Aley of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Miami Field Division, made the announcement. DEA Miami Field Division investigated the case, with assistance from the City of Miami Police Department, Miami Springs Police Department, and Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Daya Nathan prosecuted the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sandra Demirci is handling asset forfeiture. This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Miami comprises agents and officers from the FBI and the City of Miami Police Department with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov , under case number 25-cr-20438. ###


title: Baldwin County Man Sentenced For Armed Robbery

component: USAO - Alabama, Southern

body_text: MOBILE, AL – Ira Cornell Bodiford, Jr., 39, was sentenced today by United States District Judge Terry F. Moorer to 324 months in prison for an armed robbery of a convenience store. According to court documents, on December 19, 2023, Baldwin County deputies responded to an armed robbery at a convenience store in Magnolia Springs. Witnesses reported that a man wearing a disguise approached the clerk and pointed a semi-automatic handgun equipped with an extended magazine at him, demanding money. Law enforcement reviewed surveillance footage of the robbery and identified the vehicle used by the robber. The vehicle was traced to a location in Foley, where deputies recovered Bodiford, the vehicle, stolen cash, and the firearm used in the robbery. Deputies also retraced the vehicle’s route and discovered blue latex gloves along the roadside. Bodiford was seen wearing blue latex gloves in the store’s surveillance footage. Forensic testing matched DNA recovered from the gloves to Bodiford. Bodiford has several prior felony convictions, including Second-Degree Robbery, Third-Degree Burglary, and Domestic Violence Strangulation. Following his release from prison, Bodiford will serve five years of supervised release under the supervision of the United States Probation Office. U.S. Attorney Sean Costello of the Southern District of Alabama made the announcement. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys George May and Tandice H. Blackwood prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.


title: Waubay Man Sentenced to 20 Months in Federal Prison  for Assault with a Dangerous Weapon

component: USAO - South Dakota

body_text: ABERDEEN - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Charles B. Kornmann has sentenced a Waubay, South Dakota, man convicted of Assault with a Dangerous Weapon. The sentencing took place on August 17, 2026. Dawson Roger Locke, age 19, was sentenced to 20 months in federal prison, 3 years of supervised release, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100. Locke was indicted by a federal grand jury in August 2025. He pleaded guilty on June 1, 2026. The conviction stemmed from an incident on June 28, 2025 when Locke shot another young adult with a handgun. Locke and others were drinking in Enemy Swim, SD when Locke got into an argument with one of the other individuals present. As the argument escalated, Locke drew a handgun from his waistband and fired three shots in the direction of the victim. One of the shots hit the victim in the leg. This case was investigated by the FBI and the Sisseton-Wahpeton Tribal Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Ebert-Webb prosecuted the case. This matter is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office because the Major Crimes Act, a federal statute, mandates that certain violent crimes alleged to have occurred in Indian Country be prosecuted in federal court as opposed to State court. Locke was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.


title: Sioux Falls Man Sentenced to Over 3 Years in Federal Prison  for Possessing a Firearm as a Felon

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 of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person. The sentencing took place on August 17, 2026. Kyle Lee Tobacco, 32, was sentenced to three years and one month in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Tobacco was indicted by a federal grand jury in October 2025. He pleaded guilty on May 15, 2026. Tobacco was arrested on March 4, 2025, when law enforcement officers conducting a search warrant found him in possession of a pistol in his hotel room. He was prohibited from possessing the firearm because he had previous felony convictions for escape and possession of a firearm by a felon. 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. Tobacco was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.


title: Agency Village Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Assault

body_text: ABERDEEN - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Charles B. Kornmann has sentenced an Agency Village, South Dakota, man convicted of Assault by Striking, Beating, and Wounding. The sentencing took place on August 17, 2026. Donald Philip Red Owl, age 45, was sentenced to 12 months in federal prison, 1 year of supervised release, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $25. Red Owl was indicted by a federal grand jury in October 2025. He pleaded guilty on June 1, 2026. The conviction stemmed from an incident on October 28, 2024, when Red Owl struck his 15-year-old daughter in the face when she refused to give her cell phone to him. This case was investigated by the FBI and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Ebert-Webb. This matter was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office because the Major Crimes Act, a federal statute, mandates that certain violent crimes alleged to have occurred in Indian Country be prosecuted in federal court as opposed to State court. Red Owl was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.


title: Individual Indicted and Arrested for Carjacking

body_text: SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – On August 18, 2026, the Federal Bureau of Investigation arrested Benjamín Obed Velázquez Hernández, from San Juan, PR, with two carjackings, announced Héctor Ramírez Carbó, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico. On July 30, 2026, a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging Velázquez Hernández with two carjackings and two counts of firearms violations. According to the Government’s allegations, on July 23, 2025, in the District of Puerto Rico, Benjamín Obed Velázquez Hernández, while carrying and brandishing a firearm, did take a motor vehicle, to wit: a white, Hyundai Santa Fe, that had been transported, shipped or received in interstate or foreign commerce, from the presence of an adult male, by force, violence and intimidation, with the intent to cause death and serious bodily harm. On August 13, 2025, Velázquez Hernández is also charged with the armed carjacking of a grey Mitsubishi Eclipse from an adult male by force, violence and intimidation. Both victims were working as Uber drivers at the time of the carjackings. “The United States Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement partners will continue to work tirelessly to ensure that those who threaten our communities with senseless acts of violence face the consequences of their actions. I commend the Puerto Rico Police Bureau and the FBI for their excellent work in the investigation and arrest of this individual,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Ramírez- Carbó. “FBI San Juan is committed to crushing violent crime and will continue to work diligently to disrupt carjackings, Hobbs Act violations, and kidnappings in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands,” said Carlos Goris, Special Agent in Charge FBI San Juan. “Protecting citizens and bringing justice will always remain our highest priority.” The Federal Bureau of Investigation is in charge of the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney R. Vance Eaton of the Violent Crimes and National Security Section is in charge of the prosecution of the case. If convicted, the defendant faces a sentence of up to fifteen years in prison for the carjackings and up to life in prison for the firearms charges. An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. ###


title: 58-Year-Old Hatillo Man Arrested for Child Exploitation

component: USAO - Puerto Rico

body_text: SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – On August 18, 2026, special agents with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested Carlos Cabrera González, a 58-year-old male from Hatillo, Puerto Rico, on criminal charges for child exploitation, announced Héctor Ramírez-Carbó, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico. On August 12, 2026, a federal grand jury indicted Cabrera González on charges of receipt, transportation, and possession of child exploitation material. According to court documents, from in or about February 2024, to May 2026, defendant Cabrera González knowingly received and transported child exploitation material via electronic devices. Moreover, the defendant, using electronic devices, such as a Samsung A12 mobile device, a Samsung Tab A tablet, and a Lenovo IdeaPad Laptop, possessed images of child pornography, including child pornography of a prepubescent minor or a minor who had not attained 12 years of age. “We will continue to investigate, prosecute, and bring to justice any individual who victimizes children in our communities,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Héctor Ramírez-Carbó of the District of Puerto Rico. “There’s no greater priority than safeguarding our children from predators who seek to exploit or harm them. Viewing and possessing child sexual abuse material constitutes some of the most offending criminal conduct.” “The exploitation of children is a heinous crime that leaves lasting trauma, and ICE HSI is committed to relentlessly pursuing those who seek to victimize the most vulnerable among us,” said HSI San Juan Special Agent in Charge Yariel Ramos. “These offenses carry severe penalties under federal law, and we will utilize every resource at our disposal to hold perpetrators accountable. As students return to the classroom, I urge all parents, guardians, and educators to remain vigilant regarding online safety. Please familiarize yourselves with the ‘Know2Protect’ campaign and its resources to help us create a safer digital environment for our children.” Assistant U.S. Attorney Emelina Agrait Barreto of the Crimes Against Children, Human Trafficking and Immigration Unit, is prosecuting the case. The Puerto Rico Crimes Against Children Task Force led by HSI is in charge of the investigation. If convicted for the charges the defendant faces the following penalties: (1) receipt of child exploitation material – five to 20 years in prison; (2) transportation of child exploitation material – five to 20 years in prison; and (3) possession of child pornography – a maximum of 20 years of imprisonment. All charges of conviction are to be followed by a term of supervised release after the term of imprisonment. A federal district court judge will determine the sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. For more information about HSI’s efforts to protect children from sexual predators, visit Know2Protect.gov . To report suspicious activities, call 787-729-6969 or send an email to IntelHSISanJuan@hsi.dhs.gov . 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. An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. ###


title: Portland Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Use of a Firearm in Interstate Domestic Violence

component: USAO - Oregon

body_text: PORTLAND, Ore.—A Portland man was sentenced to federal prison today for interstate domestic violence and using a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. Carlos Miscoot, 28, was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison and 5 years’ supervised release, announced U.S. Attorney Scott E. Bradford for the District of Oregon. “Domestic violence cases are incredibly serious and important to me,” said U.S. Attorney Bradford. “Domestic violence removes safety from the home and places victims in constant fear. Gun use significantly increases danger. This woman made clear this relationship was over, but Miscoot sought to continue to control and abuse her. We stopped that and are grateful the victim was able to seek help after this horrific crime.” According to court documents, Miscoot abducted his ex-girlfriend at gunpoint on November 2, 2023. Miscoot and the victim had been broken up for about a year, though Miscoot continued to call, text, and show up at her home unannounced after the relationship ended. On November 2, 2023, Miscoot arranged with the victim to meet outside her home to get back some of his belongings. At her home, Miscoot pulled out a gun and forced the victim into his car. Miscoot drove her across state lines into a remote area of Washington. During the drive, he continued to point the gun at her and made threatening statements. Miscoot parked in a wooded area and raped the victim, showing and firing the gun to keep her from resisting. After the rape, Miscoot drove the victim back to Portland while continuing to threaten her and warn her not to call the police. Miscoot returned uninvited to the victim’s home less than a week later, which resulted in his arrest. On June 18, 2024, a federal grand jury in Portland returned a 3-count indictment charging Miscoot with kidnapping, interstate domestic violence, and using a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. On May 28, 2026, Miscoot pleaded guilty to interstate domestic violence and using a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. This case was investigated by the FBI and the Portland Police Bureau. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Mira Chernick.


title: Shiprock Man Sentenced for Firing Gun at Passerby

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE – A Shiprock man was sentenced to 48 months in prison for firing multiple shots at a passerby. There is no parole in the federal system. According to court records, on March 13, 2025, Isaiah Benally , 35, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, fired multiple shots at a passerby on Navajo Route 509. Two bullets struck the ground near the passerby, who was not injured but told law enforcement he feared for his life. Benally then remained inside a nearby residence and refused repeated commands from law enforcement to exit. Benally eventually exited the residence and was taken into custody without incident. A subsequent search of the residence recovered an unloaded handgun and multiple rounds of ammunition from Benally’s bedroom. Benally pleaded guilty to assault with a dangerous weapon. Upon his release from prison, Benally will be subject to three years of supervised release. First Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Special Agent in Charge Justin A. Garris of the FBI’s Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today. The Farmington Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with the assistance of the Navajo Nation Police Department and Navajo Nation Department of Criminal Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Meg Tomlinson prosecuted the case.


title: Real Estate Investor Admits Mortgage Fraud, Covid-19 Relief Program Fraud Schemes

component: USAO - New Jersey

body_text: CAMDEN, N.J. – A New Jersey man admitted to participating in a multimillion-dollar mortgage fraud scheme and fraudulently obtaining more than $1.8 million of federal Economic Injury Disaster Loans, United States Attorney Robert Frazer announced today. Arthur Spitzer, 39, of Toms River, New Jersey, pleaded guilty on August 19, 2026, before U.S. District Judge Edward S. Kiel to one count of bank and wire fraud conspiracy and one count of money laundering. Spitzer’s co-defendants, Mendel Deutsch, 39, and Joshua Feldberger, 44, previously pleaded guilty before Judge Kiel to their respective roles in the fraudulent schemes and are awaiting sentencing. According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court: In June 2020, Spitzer conspired with Deutsch and Feldberger to make it appear as if Spitzer owned three properties in Brooklyn, New York and agreed to sell them to Deutsch, who obtained a $4.5 million mortgage loan in connection with the transaction. Feldberger facilitated the fraudulent transaction as the owner of the settlement company that handled the transaction. The defendants created and sent letters stating that Deutsch had deposited significant funds into escrow toward the transaction, when in reality he had not; instead, they created fake documentation purportedly transferring control of the properties to Spitzer, and made false statements to the mortgage lender by claiming that the settlement company had received more than $2 million from Deutsch at closing, which led the mortgage lender to fund the loan. The defendants then used the mortgage loan proceeds to fund Deutsch’s down payment, which he had supposedly already provided. Spitzer also agreed that he was responsible for the losses resulting from five additional fraudulent loan schemes in 2019 and 2020, amounting to more than millions of dollars. Further, in 2020 and 2021, Spitzer fraudulently obtained approximately $1.8 million of government loans that were intended for small businesses distressed by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act is a federal law enacted in March 2020 and was designed to provide emergency financial assistance to the millions of Americans who are suffering the economic effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The CARES Act authorized the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) to provide Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs) of up to $2 million to eligible small businesses that were experiencing substantial financial disruption due to the COVID-19 pandemic. To obtain an EIDL loan, a qualifying small business was required to submit an application and provide information on its operations, including the number of employees and revenues or expenses. Spitzer obtained EIDL loans for businesses that had little or no operations by submitting loan applications that included false statements about the applicant companies’ number of employees, revenues, cost of goods sold, or lost rents. Spitzer then laundered some of the proceeds of the EIDL loan fraud. The count of bank and wire fraud conspiracy is punishable by a maximum of 30 years in prison and a $1,000,000 fine, or twice the gross gain or loss from the offense. The count of money laundering is punishable by a maximum of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine, or twice the gross gain or loss from the offense. Spitzer has agreed to pay full restitution to the victims of the offenses of conviction and relevant conduct, including $1,000,000 to the true owner of the Brooklyn properties, as well as at least $1,845,400 to the SBA, subject to any applicable credits for amounts already repaid to the victims. Spitzer also agreed to forfeiture in the amount of $2,250,000 as to the bank and wire fraud conspiracy and $100,000 as to the money laundering of fraudulent EIDL loan proceeds, for a total of $2,350,000. Spitzer is scheduled to be sentenced on December 21, 2026. Deutsch is scheduled to be sentenced on October 6, 2026, and Feldberger is awaiting the scheduling of a new sentencing date. U.S. Attorney Frazer credited special agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Atlantic City Resident Agency, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Stefanie Roddy in Newark; special agents of the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Jenifer L. Piovesan in Newark; and special agents of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation – Office of the Inspector General, under the direction of Patricia Tarasca, Special Agent in Charge, New York Regional Office, with the investigation leading to these guilty pleas. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Elisa T. Wiygul of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Criminal Division in Camden. The Fraud Section leads the Criminal Division's prosecution of fraud schemes that exploit the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). Since the inception of the CARES Act, the Fraud Section has prosecuted over 150 defendants in more than 95 criminal cases and has seized over $75 million in cash proceeds derived from fraudulently obtained PPP funds, as well as numerous real estate properties and luxury items purchased with such proceeds. More information can be found at Justice.gov/OPA/pr/justice-department-takes-action-against-covid-19-fraud . On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (“Fraud Division”). The Fraud Division is 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. ### Defense counsel: Spitzer: Henry Mazurek, Esq. and Jason Ser, Esq., New York Deutsch: Timothy Sini, Esq, New York Feldberger: Zach Intrater, Esq., New York spitzer.indictment.pdf