title: Florida Men Sentenced to Prison for $34.8M Health Care Fraud Scheme Targeting Medicare Beneficiaries

body_text: Two Florida men were sentenced to multiple years in prison for their roles in a $34.8 million health care fraud conspiracy billing Medicare for thousands of orthotic braces sent to Medicare beneficiaries who did not need them. “These fraudsters billed Medicare $34.8 million for braces that patients didn’t need and didn’t request — and now they’re paying the price,” said Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald of the Justice Department’s National Fraud Enforcement Division. “They paid kickbacks for fake doctors’ orders, shuffled billing among several companies to dodge payment suspensions, and pocketed millions that belonged to American taxpayers. Their prison sentences make clear: if you steal from Medicare, you will be caught, you will be prosecuted, and you will be held accountable.” “Medicare is not a blank check for fraudsters,” said U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida. “These defendants built a $34.8 million scheme around medically unnecessary braces, fraudulent doctors’ orders, and illegal kickbacks, all to enrich themselves at the expense of American taxpayers. Today’s sentences reinforce a simple message: if you steal from our health care programs, we will find you, prosecute you, and hold you accountable.” According to court documents, Kenneth Charles Kessler III, 43, of Miami, Florida, and Michael Andrew Gomez, 43, of Miramar, Florida, owned and operated seven durable medical equipment (DME) supply companies based in Florida. Through these DME companies, they submitted millions of dollars in false claims to Medicare for medically unnecessary orthotic braces. Kessler and Gomez also paid illegal kickbacks and bribes to obtain fraudulent signed doctors’ orders. They used these orders to ship orthotic braces to Medicare beneficiaries nationwide, including to beneficiaries who neither requested nor needed the braces, and then claimed payment for those braces from Medicare. Kessler and Gomez used their multiple DME companies to evade Medicare payment suspensions by shifting their fraudulent billing between their DME companies. Kessler profited more than $1.4 million, and Gomez profited more than $2.3 million from the fraudulent scheme. Kessler was sentenced to 33 months of in prison, and Gomez was sentenced to 24 months of in prison. In May 2026, Kessler and Gomez each pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud. Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald of the Justice Department’s National Fraud Enforcement Division; U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida; Special Agent in Charge Brett Skiles of the FBI Miami Field Office; and Acting Deputy Inspector General for Investigations Miranda Bennett of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG) made the announcement. FBI and HHS-OIG investigated the case. Trial Attorneys Aisha Schafer Hylton and Owen Dunn of the National Fraud Enforcement Division’s Health Care Fraud Section prosecuted the case. On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (Fraud Division). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs. The Department of Justice’s Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program, currently comprised of nine strike forces operating in federal districts across the country, has charged more than 6,200 defendants who collectively billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $45 billion since 2007. In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with the Office of the Inspector General for the Department of Health and Human Services, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit .


title: Five Charged in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Wisconsin with Illegally Voting, Fraudulent Registration in 2022 or 2024 Election

component: Office of the Attorney General

body_text: Five individuals living in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Wisconsin were charged this week related to illegal voting in the 2022 or 2024 election. “The integrity of our elections, which are fundamental to democracy, should be of utmost importance to every American,” said Attorney General Todd Blanche. “It is a cherished right for eligible American citizens, and only eligible American citizens, to vote for their representatives in government. Election fraud is a serious crime, and it is the duty of the Department of Justice to treat it as such.” “As alleged, these five individuals in New Jersey, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania, including two illegal aliens, stole votes from American citizens when they decided to break the law and undermine our elections,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “Protecting election integrity for the American people is one of the top priorities for this FBI. Every American citizen has a right to free and fair elections, and we will not hesitate to use all available resources to investigate every credible allegation of election fraud and illegal voting.” “The crime of illegal voting undermines the integrity of our elections and harms citizens by stealing the power of our votes,” said U.S. Attorney Brian Miller for the Middle District of Pennsylvania. “Illegal voting is not a victimless crime but a serious affront to the principles of our democratic republic. This office will prosecute to the full extent of the law those who illegally vote in federal elections as well as those who facilitate illegal voting.” “Government has a responsibility to the people to safeguard elections,” said U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer for the District of New Jersey. “Even one illegal vote is one too many. Here in New Jersey, the federal government is taking this responsibility seriously and violations of federal election law will be investigated and prosecuted to preserve the integrity of our democracy and ensure that no citizens’ votes are diluted.” “Protecting the integrity of federal elections is a fundamental responsibility of the U.S. Attorney’s Office,” said U.S. Attorney Chadwick M. Elgersma for the Western District of Wisconsin. “The charge against this defendant reflects our commitment to enforcing the law and ensuring that every vote cast complies fully with federal requirements. No one is above these obligations, and my office will continue to pursue cases where unlawful voting occurs.” “Homeland Security Investigations is committed to safeguarding the integrity of our nation’s election systems and ensuring that allegations of unlawful voting, fraudulent registration, and other election-related crimes are thoroughly investigated,” said Acting Executive Associate Director John A. Condon of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). “The American people deserve confidence that our elections are protected from fraud and criminal exploitation, and that those who seek to undermine the law are held accountable. As reflected in these cases, HSI special agents worked alongside our federal partners to identify alleged criminal conduct, follow the evidence, and support prosecutions that reinforce public trust and uphold the rule of law.” Middle District of Pennsylvania Thomas Holtzman, 68, and his wife Marisol Guzman, 50, both of Carlisle, Pennsylvania, were indicted by a federal grand jury on charges related to Guzman illegally voting as an alien in the 2024 election. Guzman was charged with voting as an alien. Holtzman, a U.S. citizen, was charged with false statement of citizenship in order to vote and aiding and abetting and fraudulent registration and aiding and abetting. Katya Rodriguez, 30, an illegal alien from Mexico living in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, was indicted by a federal grand jury on charges related to illegally voting as an alien in the 2024 election. Specifically, Rodriguez was charged with false statement of citizenship in order to vote, fraudulent registration, and voting as an alien. If convicted, Holtzman faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, a term of supervised release, and a fine. Guzman faces a maximum penalty of one year in prison, a term of supervised release, and a fine. Rodriguez faces a maximum penalty of 11 years in prison, a term of supervised release, and a fine. Any sentence would be imposed by a judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines. HSI investigated the cases. Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott Ford for the Middle District of Pennsylvania is prosecuting the cases. District of New Jersey Mercedes Alexandra Cardoso of Union County, New Jersey, was charged with voting by an alien in a federal election. According to the complaint, Cardoso was a non-citizen when she registered online via the New Jersey Division of Elections Online Voter Registration System. On her voter registration form she falsely certified and attested that she was a U.S. citizen, which is required to register to vote and vote in federal elections. Cardoso allegedly cast a ballot in the June 2024 primary election, which included candidates who were vying for election for the office of President and Vice President of the United States. At the time she cast her ballot, Cardoso, who entered the United States from Ecuador on a B-2 visa, was not a U.S. citizen and was therefore not authorized to vote in federal elections. If convicted of voting by an illegal alien, Cardoso faces a maximum penalty of one year in prison. She is scheduled to have an initial appearance on Sept. 8. The FBI, HSI, and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark J. McCarren for the District of New Jersey is prosecuting the case. Western District of Wisconsin Jesus Javier Jurado Garcia, 25, an illegal alien from Mexico living in Beloit, Wisconsin, was charged on Sept. 2, with illegally voting as an alien in the November 2022 election. According to a criminal information, on Nov. 8, 2022, Jurado Garcia, knowing he was not a U.S. citizen, illegally voted in an election held in part for the purpose of electing a candidate for the offices of Member of the Senate and Member of the House of Representatives. If convicted, Jurado Garcia faces a maximum sentence of one year in prison. Any sentence would be imposed by a judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines. A complaint, indictment, and information merely contain accusations. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Wausau Man Sentenced to 8 Years for Wire Fraud and Money Laundering

component: USAO - Wisconsin, Western

body_text: MADISON, WIS. – Chadwick M. Elgersma, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Stanley Pophal, 65, Wausau, Wisconsin, was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge William Conley to 8 years in federal prison for wire fraud and money laundering. Pophal pleaded guilty to the charges on April 20, 2026. He was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $14.25 million. Between May 2019 and June 2025, Pophal, using the business name Bright with Silver, Inc., offered investment opportunities; including cryptocurrency, real estate flipping, artificial intelligence technology, gold, silver, and emeralds. Pophal convinced most investors to sign investment contracts, which he styled as promissory notes. The promissory notes guaranteed investors a rate of return of at least 20%. Pophal told investors that he was able to secure high rates of return because he had connections in the finance, commodities, and real estate sectors. Pophal also repeatedly told investors that even if his investments on their behalf were not successful, their investment principal was never at risk because he had enough personal wealth to repay each investor's principal. He told investors that he had accumulated his wealth through past business and investment success. In fact, Pophal’s claims of past business success were exaggerated, and his claims of vast personal wealth were false. Pophal never had sufficient funds to personally guarantee each investor’s principal. Pophal used the vast majority of money he received from investors to pay his personal and business expenses, fund personal travel, pay his mortgage, rent a private plane, and purchase snowmobiles, motorcycles, and vehicles including a yellow Ferrari. To further the fraud scheme, Pophal made “Ponzi” payments to early victims, falsely representing the payments to be investment returns or interest, when in truth the payments were comprised of funds from new investors. At the sentencing, many victims spoke, sharing the impact that Pophal’s crimes had on them. Stressing that life savings and retirement funds were lost, Judge Conley noted that no prison sentence could fully account for the horror of Pophal’s conduct because Pophal preyed upon vulnerable individuals who trusted him. Judge Conley also found that the victims were still grieving over the loss of their hard-earned funds. As part of the investigation, law enforcement agents seized more than 600 items Pophal purchased or funded with investor funds. The items included hundreds of snowmobiles, which Pophal stored in a rented warehouse. Two photos from that warehouse are below. As part of his plea agreement with the government, Pophal agreed to forfeit these items. “Pophal’s actions were not just financial crimes; they were deliberate acts of greed. He preyed on investors who trusted him, draining their life savings and shattering their security. Yesterday’s sentence makes clear that exploiting people for personal gain will be met with firm and unambiguous justice. The United States Attorney’s Office will continue to stand up for victims whose voices were stolen by fraudsters like him.” “Pophal took the trust his investors placed in him and turned it into a payday for himself, using deceit to steal more than $14 million and live high on other people’s money,” said Robert J. Kuszynski, Acting Special Agent in Charge, IRS Criminal Investigation, Chicago Field Office. “Our special agents used their forensic accounting expertise to pull apart his Ponzi scheme, dollar by dollar. There’s no clever way to dress up stealing, and if you build your fortune by cheating others, don’t be surprised when the numbers lead us straight to your door.” “Stanley Pophal victimized 190 hardworking people out of their money through an investment scam in which he lied to would-be investors. Instead of growing wealth for the victims, he spent their money to fund his own personal lavish lifestyle which included purchasing hundreds of snowmobiles, motorcycles, and vehicles. His deceit led to victim losses of over $14 million,” said FBI Milwaukee Special Agent in Charge Alan Karr. “The FBI is committed to holding fraudsters accountable for their actions. We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to target those who seek to steal from hardworking people for their own personal greed.” The charges against Pophal are a result of an investigation by IRS Criminal Investigation and the FBI with assistance from The Iowa Insurance Fraud Bureau, the Allamakee Sheriff's Office, and the Winneshiek Sheriff's Office. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Meredith P. Duchemin.


title: Madison Man Sentenced to More Than 3 Years for Illegally Possessing Firearm

body_text: MADISON, WIS. – Chadwick M. Elgersma, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Curtis Bell, 56, Madison, Wisconsin, was sentenced yesterday by Chief U.S. District Judge James Peterson to 40 months in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. Bell pleaded guilty to this charge on May 18, 2026. On April 8, 2022, a woman reported that her gun had been stolen from the trunk of her car. The gun was returned to the woman approximately one year later. DNA testing of the gun revealed Bell’s DNA on the handgrip and the trigger. At sentencing Bell admitted that he had stolen the gun to pay a drug debt. Bell is prohibited from legally possessing a firearm because of prior felony convictions; including convictions for false imprisonment, burglary, possession of narcotics, and possessing a firearm as a felon. At sentencing, Judge Peterson stressed that the goal of sentencing was to protect the community and found that Bell was an acute risk to public safety. Judge Peterson said that Bell’s pattern of sustained harassment of and violence against women, including six convictions since 2020, was an aggravating factor. The charge against Bell was the result of an investigation conducted by the Madison Police Department, Dane County Narcotics Task Force, and the ATF Madison Crime Gun Task Force, which is comprised of agents from ATF and Task Force Officers from state and local agencies throughout the Western District of Wisconsin. Assistant U.S. Attorney Julie Pfluger prosecuted this case. Federal prosecutions by the U.S. Department of Justice involving drugs and guns are part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Operation Take Back America. Operation Take Back America is a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. 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


title: Baraboo Man Sentenced to 9 Years for Fentanyl Trafficking

body_text: MADISON, WIS. – Chadwick M. Elgersma, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Deandre Dwayne Templeton, 42, Baraboo, Wisconsin, has been sentenced by Chief U.S. District Judge James D. Peterson to 9 years in federal prison for possessing 40 grams or more of fentanyl intended for distribution. The prison term will be followed by 7 years of supervised release. Templeton pleaded guilty to this charge on June 9, 2026. In the spring and summer of 2025, the Sauk County Drug Task Force identified Templeton as a leader of a group selling heroin and fentanyl in Sauk County. From April through June 2025, investigators purchased quantities of heroin and/or fentanyl from Templeton and his associates on many occasions. On July 30, 2025, Templeton drove to Chicago, Illinois, to pick up additional heroin/fentanyl for distribution. When Templeton returned to his apartment in Baraboo, law enforcement officers placed him under arrest and searched his vehicle. Inside, officers found 174 grams of heroin/fentanyl in a backpack. At sentencing, Judge Peterson noted that Templeton was involved in significant drug trafficking and played a leadership role in the group. In determining an appropriate sentence, Judge Peterson highlighted that Templeton had a fairly aggravated criminal history, which included convictions for drug trafficking, weapons, and some violence. The charge against Templeton was the result of an investigation conducted by the Sauk County Drug Task Force; the Sauk County Sheriff’s Office; the Baraboo, Lake Delton, and Reedsburg Police Departments; the Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation; and the Drug Enforcement Administration. The Sauk County District Attorney’s Office also assisted with the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jennifer R. Remington and Steven P. Anderson prosecuted this case. Federal prosecutions by the U.S. Department of Justice involving drugs and guns are part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Operation Take Back America. Operation Take Back America is a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).


title: Significant drug distributor for family-based drug trafficking organization sentenced to nine years in prison

component: USAO - Washington, Western

body_text: Seattle – A 22-year-old Federal Way, Washington, man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Seattle to nine years in prison for his role in a conspiracy to distribute massive amounts of fentanyl, announced First Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Neil Floyd. Sir Terrique Milam was a trusted associate of one of the leaders of the family-based drug trafficking organization – Markell Jackson. Milam was heard on phone calls arranging to go to Arizona with Markell Jackson to pick up a 150,000-pill load of fentanyl. At today’s sentencing hearing U.S. District Judge Jamal N. Whitehead noted the deadly risk of 15 kilos of fentanyl. “You were in on the conspiracy… You knew what you were selling… And you kept going even after contact with law enforcement,” the judge told him. “Mr. Milam was a trusted member of this drug trafficking organization – trusted to travel to Arizona and meet with the primary supplier of the drugs,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Neil Floyd. “He is a young man but already has convictions for promoting prostitution and illegal firearms possession. This prison sentence is needed to protect the community and break his cycle of crime.” “In close partnership with the leader of this organization, Mr. Milam conspired with him and others to distribute huge quantities of deadly drugs,” said W. Mike Herrington, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Seattle field office. “He clearly has not learned his lesson from previous convictions and from his attempts to evade law enforcement and so will have to deal with the consequences of his repeated criminal behavior. I commend the work of the investigators and prosecutors on this extensive case, which reached across the United States to hold these drug traffickers responsible.” Over the course of this investigation, law enforcement seized more than 846,000 fentanyl pills, nearly 7 kilograms of fentanyl powder, 7 kilograms of cocaine and 29 firearms. They also seized more than $116,000 in cash. Milam was identified in the wire-tap investigation and was stopped in August 2024 returning from eastern Washington. The police stop revealed he was carrying a firearm in the vehicle. But Milam later bragged on a wiretapped phone call, that he was able to get the fentanyl pills out of the car before police could search it. Despite that run-in with law enforcement, Milam continued to be involved with drug trafficking. On October 2, 2024, law enforcement executed search warrants at Milam’s home, seizing 323.8 grams of fentanyl from under Milam’s bed, multiple drug scales and $4,900 in United States Currency that Milam admits were proceeds of drug trafficking. At takedown in October 2024, law enforcement fanned out across the country and in western Washington arresting 17 people on indictments and criminal complaints for the multi- state drug trafficking conspiracy. The two-year investigation culminated in search and arrest warrants in Georgia, Missouri, Texas, Arizona, and Washington State. The drug ring was led by Marquis Jackson, 33, his parents, defendants Mandel Jackson, 52, and Matelita (Marty) Jackson, 51, and siblings Markell Jackson, 23, and Miracle Patu-Jackson, 25. Members of the Jackson family are indicted for various conspiracy counts including drug trafficking and money laundering conspiracies. Records filed in the case link some of the Jacksons to a Seattle area street gang. The Jackson family members, and other members of the conspiracy, are scheduled for trial in July 2027. The charges contained in the indictment are only allegations. A person is presumed innocent unless and until he or she is proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. A number of the members of the drug distribution ring have pleaded guilty and already been sentenced: Michael Young Jr, 45, of Tacoma, was sentenced to seven years in prison. Treyvon Mitchell, 33, of Kent, WA, was sentenced to six years in prison. Robert Johnson, 22, of Renton, WA was sentenced to 70 months in prison. Tyrell Lewis, 34, of Federal Way, WA was sentenced to 37 months in prison. Phillip Lamont Alexander, 50, of Des Moines, WA has pleaded guilty and is scheduled for sentencing in November 2026. This case was investigated by the FBI, (Seattle, Phoenix, Atlanta, Kansas City, Dallas, Las Vegas, Montana), DEA (Seattle, Kansas City, Wichita, Montana), the Seattle Police Department, King County Sheriff’s Office, Whatcom Region Drug Task Force, the Lummi Police Department, the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and United States Border Patrol Blaine Sector Targeting and Intelligence Division. This investigation 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 Seattle comprises agents and officers from Homeland Security Investigations, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), The United States Marshals Service (USMS), the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigations (IRS-CI), the United States Secret Service (USSS), U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and the U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Washington. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Zach Dillon and Crystal Correa.


title: Texas National Guardsman Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Possessing Child Pornography

component: USAO - Texas, Western

body_text: DEL RIO, Texas – A Texas man was sentenced in a federal court in Del Rio to 10 years in prison for possessing prepubescent child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons for the Western District of Texas. According to court documents, Estin Cole West, 25, operated a Google account that had been identified as saving 81 videos and images of suspected child sexual abuse material in November 2023 when he was living in Laredo. An investigation by Homeland Security Investigations revealed the Google account, IP address, and two associated email addresses all belonged to West. HSI agents also learned that West was employed by the Texas National Guard and had recently been stationed at a military installation in Del Rio. During an interview with West, agents located multiple videos depicting CSAM in a locked folder within West’s phone, as well as a Telegram application that also contained several batches of CSAM. A forensic analysis of West’s phone returned 512 images and 726 videos depicting child pornography, including images of bestiality and prepubescent children. West was arrested on Dec. 6, 2024. He pleaded guilty on March 24, 2025. ICE HSI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nallely Duarte prosecuted the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc . ###


title: Judge Deals 30-Year Federal Sentence to Texas Felon who Trafficked Fentanyl in State Prison

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: SAN ANTONIO – A convicted felon already serving a state prison sentence was sentenced in a U.S. District Court to 360 months in federal prison for trafficking fentanyl while in prison, announced U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons for the Western District of Texas. According to court documents, Verndale Ray Seals, 36, was convicted in 2016 for armed robbery, for which he was sentenced to 20 years in a Texas Department of Criminal Justice prison. While imprisoned, Seals helped organize an extensive conspiracy smuggling fentanyl and other narcotics into TDCJ prisons. Seals operated a network sourcing fentanyl and other drugs to produce drug-soaked sheets of paper that were distributed inside the prisons. Seals was indicted on Nov. 1, 2023, along with several co-conspirators. He pleaded guilty on April 24, 2025, to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 400 grams of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl. On Wednesday, U.S. District Judge Jason Pulliam ordered Seals to serve a 30-year federal prison sentence, which will begin at the conclusion of his state sentence. The Drug Enforcement Administration and TDCJ investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian Nowinski prosecuted the case. ###


title: West Virginia Man Who Attempted to Carry Flashbang Grenade Onto Plane Pleads Guilty to Possessing Unregistered Firearm

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Western

body_text: PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of Morgantown, West Virginia, pleaded guilty in federal court to a charge of possessing an unregistered firearm, United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today. Zachary Velling, 27, pleaded guilty to one count before United States District Judge Mark R. Hornak on September 2, 2026. In connection with the guilty plea, the Court was advised that, on November 12, 2024, Velling entered security at the Pittsburgh International Airport and placed his carry-on luggage through the x-ray machine. Representatives with the Transportation Security Administration noticed a suspicious object within Velling’s luggage, which officers from the Allegheny County Police Department ultimately determined to be a MK24 MOD 0,6 Bang/Flash diversionary hand grenade. The grenade is a firearm and destructive device under federal law that was not registered to Velling in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record. Judge Hornak scheduled Velling’s sentencing for January 7, 2027. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of up to 10 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant. Assistant United States Attorney V. Joseph Sonson is prosecuting this case on behalf of the United States. The Federal Bureau of Investigation; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; Allegheny County Police Department, and Transportation Security Administration conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Velling.


title: Shawnee Man Sentenced to Serve More Than Three Years in Prison after Stealing Firearms from Pawn Shop

component: USAO - Oklahoma, Western

body_text: OKLAHOMA CITY – LARRON DESHAWN THOMAS , JR. , 20, of Shawnee, Oklahoma, has been sentenced to serve 37 months in federal prison for possession of stolen firearms, announced U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester. According to public records, on March 4, 2025, Thomas stole two firearms from behind the counter of a pawn shop in Shawnee. Thomas was identified through surveillance footage and arrested the following day. Law enforcement subsequently recovered the stolen firearms from Thomas’s residence. On July 16, 2025, a federal grand jury charged Thomas with possession of stolen firearms. Thomas pleaded guilty to that count on February 25, 2026, and admitted he possessed firearms that he knew were stolen. At a sentencing hearing on August 31, 2026, U.S. District Judge Patrick R. Wyrick sentenced Thomas to serve 37 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release. In announcing his sentence, Judge Wyrick noted the need to deter further criminal conduct and to promote respect for the law. This case is the result of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Shawnee Police Department, and the Pottawatomie County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Danielle M. Connolly prosecuted the case. Reference is made to public filings for additional information.


title: Recidivist Child Pornography Offender Sentenced to 15 Years in Federal Prison

body_text: OKLAHOMA CITY – PAUL FRANCIS HUDSON , 39, of Oklahoma City, has been sentenced to serve 180 months in federal prison for possession of child pornography and for violating the terms of federal supervised release, announced U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester. According to public records, in August 2015, Hudson was sentenced to 86 months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for receipt of child pornography in the Western District of Oklahoma case number CR-15-36-M. His supervised release was later revoked in March 2023 for, among other things, drug use and associating with felons. At that time, he was sentenced to nine additional months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release. Public records further reflect that, in February 2026, following his release from prison the second time, U.S. Probation officers discovered that Hudson had purchased an unauthorized phone in violation of the terms of his supervised release. On February 11, 2026, law enforcement seized the phone and discovered hundreds of images of child pornography. On March 3, 2026, a federal grand jury charged Hudson with possession of child pornography. Hudson pleaded guilty on May 6, 2026, and admitted he knowingly possessed child pornography that he downloaded using a cell phone. At a sentencing hearing on September 3, 2026, Chief U.S. District Judge Scott L. Palk sentenced Hudson to serve 180 months in federal prison: 120 months for possession of child pornography and 60 months for violating the terms of his supervised release by committing the new child pornography offense, to be served consecutively. Hudson was also ordered to pay $34,000 in restitution, split between 11 child victims who were depicted in images he possessed. In announcing the sentence, Judge Palk noted the grave impact that child pornography crimes have on victims depicted in child pornography. This case is the result of an investigation by the FBI Oklahoma City Field Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon Hale prosecuted this case as well as the 2015 case. This case is part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative by the Department of Justice (DOJ) to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the DOJ Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, PSC 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 PSC, please visit www.justice.gov/psc . Reference is made to public filings for additional information.


title: Federal jury convicts prior felon on new child pornography charges

component: USAO - New York, Western

body_text: BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that a federal jury convicted John Richard Wade, 51, of Hornell, NY, of receipt and possession of child pornography, which carry a maximum penalty of 40 years in prison. Wade was previously convicted in 2011 on federal charges of possession of child pornography and was on supervised release for those offenses when he committed these newest offenses. On April 11, 2024, probation officers searched Wade’s residence, seizing multiple unmonitored devices, including four laptops and a hard drive, suspected marijuana, and drug paraphernalia. An initial review recovered multiple videos of suspected child pornography on the seized hard drive, which was found hidden under some clothes in a laundry bin. A subsequent examination recovered over 40,000 images and videos of child pornography on the hard drive. Investigators also located the web browser Tore on the hard drive. Tore is frequently used by individuals in possession of child pornography to receive and distribute child pornography from the internet. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nicholas M. Testani and Melissa M. Marangola. The verdict is the result of an investigation by the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Allen D. Davis, II and the U.S Probation Office, under the direction of Chief Probation Officer Clifford Jackson. Sentencing is scheduled for December 2, 2026, before U.S. District Judge Frank P. Geraci, Jr., who presided over the trial of the case. # # # #


title: Buffalo man going to prison for defrauding SSA out of tens of thousands of dollars

body_text: BUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that John Vincent Ridgeway, 76, of Buffalo, NY, who was convicted of failure to disclose an event impacting eligibility for supplemental security income benefits, was sentenced to serve 15 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara. In January 1974, Ridgeway began receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments administered by the Social Security Administration (SSA), based upon his representation that he is disabled and does not own countable resources exceeding $2,000 in value. In January 2004, Ridgeway purchased property on Langmeyer Avenue in Buffalo, jointly with his wife. The value of the property at the time exceeded $2,000, which made him ineligible to continue collecting SSI payments. Ridgeway owned the property until March 2017. Subsequently, in October 2004, Ridgeway purchased property on LaSalle Avenue in Buffalo, using the identity of J.J.R. The value of the property at time of purchase exceeded $2,000, which again made him ineligible to continue collecting SSI payments. Ridgeway owned the property until September 2011. In February 2005, Ridgeway purchased two properties on Northumberland Avenue in Buffalo, the value of which exceeded $2,000. He owned the properties until October 2020, once again making him ineligible to continue collecting SSI payments. In May 2010, Ridgeway purchased a property on Marigold Street in Buffalo, using the identity of his deceased mother. Once again, the value of the property exceeded $2,000. He owned the property until October 2023. Ridgeway failed to disclose ownership of any of these the properties to the SSA, with the intent to continue fraudulently collecting SSI payments. In June 2021, Ridgeway completed an SSI redetermination with the SSA. On the redetermination form, he stated that he did not own any property and signed it under the following statement: “I understand that anyone who knowingly lies or misrepresents the truth or arranges for someone to knowingly lie or misrepresent the truth is committing a crime which can be punished under Federal law, State law, or both. Everything on this document is the truth as best I know it.” The SSA determined that Ridgeway’s concealment of his resources resulted in an SSI overpayment of $179,276 between February 2004, and October 2023. On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (“Fraud Division”). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Franz M. Wright. The sentencing is of the result of an investigation by the Social Security Administration, Office of the Inspector General, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Amy Connelly, Boston New York Field Division, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of the Inspector General, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Shawn Rice, and the U.S. Department of State Diplomatic Security Service, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Brian Wood. # # # #


title: Two Men Indicted for Robbery of Isle of Capri Casino

component: USAO - Missouri, Western

body_text: JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Two men have been indicted by a federal grand jury for their role in a robbery at a casino in Boonville, Mo. earlier this year. Benjamin Michael-Dass Charles, of Columbia, Mo., and Hollis Cortez Vanleer of Normal, Ill., were charged with various counts relating to the robbery of the Isle of Capri Casino, including conspiracy to interfere with commerce by robbery and a substantive charge of interfering with commerce by robbery. Additionally, both Charles and Vanleer are charged with brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. Vanleer is also charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm. According to court documents, on March 25, 2026, Charles and Vanleer are alleged to have driven to, parked, and entered the Isle of Capri Casino dressed in black and wearing hats, glasses, and face coverings. One defendant was carrying an AR style rifle, and the other was carrying a 9mm pistol as they made their way through the casino to the main bank area where money was kept. Both took money out of a cash drawer, placed it into a duffel bag, then jumped back over the front counter, ran through the casino, out the front door, and then jumped in their car and drove away. The total amount taken in the robbery was $1,275,999. The charges contained in this indictment are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jim Lynn. It was investigated by Federal Bureau of Investigation, Missouri State Highway Patrol, Boonville, Missouri Police Department, Cooper County Sheriff’s Department, and Howard County Sheriff’s Department.


title: Missouri State Representative Candidate Charged with Conspiring to Distribute Cocaine to Frame Opponent

body_text: SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A Missouri state representative candidate has been charged by criminal complaint for conspiring to distribute a controlled substance to plant on his political opponent. Thomas Christopher Ross, 37, of Joplin, Mo., was charged in a one-count complaint for conspiring to distribute a controlled substance. Ross is currently running for the state seat in House District 161 and won the Republican primary last month. As alleged in the affidavit filed in support of the complaint, on Thursday, July 30, 2026, the Federal Bureau of Investigation was contacted by the Joplin Police Department (JPD) regarding a “public corruption” matter in Joplin, Mo. According to the initial information provided by JPD, the former campaign manager for Ross (C.S.), was asked by Ross to plant drugs on his opponent (L.S.). C.S. provided law enforcement with a black nylon glove that he claimed was given to him by Ross. A small, plastic bag was inside the glove. Inside of the bag was a small amount of white powder. A Nartec Inc. Cocaine Test Kit was used on the powder, which indicated a positive match for cocaine. Additionally, inside of the glove was a pink and white capsule. The capsule was identified as Amphetamine and Dextroamphetamine 20 mg extended release, also known as Adderall, a Schedule II controlled substance. C.S. told investigators that he and Ross exchanged text messages, in which Ross requested for C.S. to place the bag of drugs inside of the purse or vehicle of L.S. while Ross was out of state on vacation. “The American people deserve confidence in an electoral process that has served our nation for generations,” said R. Matthew Price, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Missouri. “Candidates are expected to conduct their campaigns with integrity, honesty, and respect for their opponents, allowing voters to make informed decisions without fear of misinformation or undue influence. The Western District of Missouri will continue to uphold fairness, transparency, and integrity in elections and will pursue violations of public trust when warranted”. “The conduct alleged in these charges are substantial and serious,” said Chris Ormerod, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Kansas City Field Office. “Our citizens deserve to know that the election process is done with transparency and fairness. As this case moves through the judicial process, it’s important that it proceeds fairly, impartially and in accordance with the rule of law.” The charges contained in the complaint are simply accusations and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jessica R. Eatmon. This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Joplin Police Department.


title: Indian National Pleads Guilty to Role in Illegal Gambling Ring

body_text: JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – An Indian national pleaded guilty in federal court for his involvement in a multi-million-dollar illegal gambling conspiracy occurring at six locations in southwest Missouri. Sunilkumar N. Patel, 53, a resident of the state of New York, pleaded guilty before U.S. Chief Magistrate Judge Willie J. Epps, Jr., to one count each of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, conspiracy to operate an illegal gambling business, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and money laundering. Patel admitted that he and his co-conspirators, in aggregate, obtained approximately $9,362,114 in gross proceeds from their wire fraud scheme and their illegal gambling businesses and then conducted various financial transactions for the purpose of laundering the proceeds. On May 14, 2025, Patel was charged, along with eight other individuals, in a 72-count superseding indictment by a federal grand jury in Springfield, Mo. The indictment charges all nine defendants with one count each of participating in a conspiracy to commit wire fraud, conspiracy to operate an illegal gambling business, and operating illegal gambling businesses from July 1, 2022, to May 13, 2025. In addition to the conspiracy counts, all nine defendants were charged with at least one count of wire fraud, and eight defendants were charged with money laundering. Through Patel’s guilty plea, he admitted that he and his co-conspirators ran illegal gambling businesses under the guise of internet amusement arcade games, skill game arcades, and adult arcades. Patel and his co-conspirators hired local employees to work in their businesses, which operated contests of chance, gambling devices, and slot machines in violation of Missouri and Federal law. There were four locations that operated in Springfield.: Big Win Arcade #1 at 1928 S. Glenstone Ave., Big Win Arcade #2 at 1135 E. Commercial St., Spin Hitters at 838-840 S. Glenstone Ave., and Vegas Arcade at 615 S. Scenic. They also opened Spin Zone at 2331 E. 7 th St. in Joplin, Mo., and Vegas City Arcade at 16585 Missouri Highway 13, Branson West. Under federal statutes, Patel is subject to a sentence of up to 20, 20, five, 20, and 20 years in federal prison without parole, respectively, for each count to which he pleaded guilty. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Casey Clark. It was investigated by the Springfield, Missouri Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, IRS-Criminal Investigations, the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the Joplin, Missouri Police Department, the Kansas City, Missouri Police Department, the Missouri National Guard Counter Drug Unit, the Mid-States Organized Crime Information Center, the Greene County, Missouri Prosecuting Attorney, the Jasper County, Missouri Prosecuting Attorney, and the Johnson County, Missouri Prosecuting Attorney. 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. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).


title: Illegal Alien from Honduras Sentenced for Illegally Reentering the United States

body_text: KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Honduran national, illegally living in the Kansas City, Mo. area, was sentenced to eight months in federal prison for violating immigration laws. On April 21, 2026, Orlin Rafael Cerrato-Avilez, 32, was found guilty by a federal trial jury of illegally reentering the United States after having previously been deported. On March 4, 2026, officers with the Independence, Missouri Police Department arrested Cerrato-Avilez for giving false information during a traffic stop when he would not provide complete information about his date of birth. After using fingerprints to confirm Cerrato-Avilez’s identity, officers learned he had previously been removed from the United States. The Independence Police Department contacted Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Enforcement and Removal Operations, who took custody of Cerrato-Avilez. In conjunction with ICE - Homeland Security Investigations, it was determined that Cerrato-Avilez had illegally entered the United States in April of 2013 and was removed to Honduras later that same month. The case was prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael J. Nichols and Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathleen D. Mahoney. It was investigated by the Enforcement and Removal Operations and Homeland Security Investigations divisions of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and the Independence, Missouri Police Department. 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. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).


title: Richmond, Vermont Man Sentenced to 120 Months for Possession of Child Sexual Abuse Materials

component: USAO - Vermont

body_text: RUTLAND – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont stated that on September 2, 2026, Kenneth Beane, 37, of Richmond, Vermont, was sentenced by United States District Judge Mary Kay Lanthier to a term of 120 months’ imprisonment to be followed by a 10-year term of supervised release. Judge Lanthier also imposed $5,000 in restitution for the victims of the offense, as well as assessments totaling $15,100. Bean previously pleaded guilty to possessing child sexual abuse materials (“CSAM”) on his personal electronic devices. According to court records, law enforcement discovered that Beane was making CSAM available to others through a peer-to-peer file sharing application, and thereafter downloaded CSAM images from Beane’s IP address. On September 8, 2025, law enforcement executed a federal search warrant on Beane’s residence in Richmond, Vermont. During the search, law enforcement seized electronic devices with additional CSAM material, including images of prepubescent minors under the age of 12. In total, Beane possessed approximately 3,600 digital files containing CSAM. Bean has a prior federal conviction for possession of CSAM stemming from a 2015 arrest. This prior conviction also involved Bean sharing CSAM materials via peer-to-peer networks. Bean received a one-year sentence in 2016, which was followed by a 5-year term of supervised release. Bean had multiple violations of his supervision, including using unapproved electronics and unauthorized contact with minors. First Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan A. Ophardt commended the collaborative investigatory efforts of Homeland Security Investigations and the Vermont Attorney General’s Office. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney David Golubock. Kenneth Beane was represented by the Office of the Federal Public Defender. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC .


title: Washington County Man Sentenced to 15 Years’ Imprisonment for Wire Fraud

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

number: Release No. 26-92

body_text: ST. GEORGE, Utah – A Southern Utah man was sentenced to 180 months’ imprisonment after he posed as a ‘savant’ stock trader, obtaining at least $89 million from approximately 200 investors. The majority of the funds were either lost in day trading or misappropriated, resulting in an outstanding victim loss of at least $77 million, which he concealed. The sentence, imposed by U.S. District Court Judge Ann Marie McIff Allen, comes after Matthew Shane Perkins, 47, of Washington City, Utah, pleaded guilty on February 2, 2026, to wire fraud. In addition to his term of imprisonment, Perkins was sentenced to three years of supervised release and ordered to pay $77,683,091.96 in restitution to the victims. According to court documents and statements made at Perkins’s change of plea and sentencing hearings, between August 2023 and November 2025, Perkins, who held himself as a “brilliant trader who consistently beat the market and rarely suffered losing days,” engaged in a scheme to defraud over 200 investors. As a result, investors lost $77,683,091.96. Many victims lost their live savings due to Perkins’s fraud. Perkins operated Forged Oak LLC and established a business arrangement with the principal of RentDue Capital LLC. Rent Due Capital recruited investors to three separate funds through social media, the company’s website, and meetings with investors. When RentDue Capital received investors’ money, the principal sent the funds to Perkins to day trade. Perkins made repeated false representations regarding the funds’ performance and balance. This included providing records to RentDue Capital that falsified daily trading performance and altering brokerage statements to inflate the funds’ balance. In early November 2025, for example, Perkins provided RentDue Capital with an altered brokerage statement representing that over $133 million were in the funds. At that time, however, the funds had less than $13 million. Unbeknownst to investors, Perkins lost tens of millions of dollars in day trading. He also misappropriated millions of dollars from investors for personal expenses, for a down payment on a home, and to purchase a cabin, luxury vehicles, an airplane, and a $80,000 hunt in British Columbia, among other things. “Perkins’s elaborate scheme left a slew of victims in his wake. Many of the over 200 victims were everyday Americans who lost their lifesavings, all to fund Perkins’ extravagant lifestyle including his private plane, cabin, and luxury cars,” said U.S. Attorney Melissa Holyoak for the District of Utah. “I want to thank our law enforcement partners and the prosecution team for securing a significant sentence—one that we hope will deter others from attempting similar schemes.” “Perkins financed a lavish lifestyle by stealing from his victims, stripping away not just their savings, but the hard-earned security they spent decades building,” said Special Agent in Charge Robert Bohls of the Salt Lake City FBI. “While no sentence can completely heal that financial and emotional damage, it ensures the defendant faces justice. The FBI will not tolerate fraud and will relentlessly pursue anyone who preys on investors for personal gain.” “The sheer magnitude of this investment fraud and the financial harm it caused to hundreds of innocent victims underscores the seriousness of abuse to our financial systems,” said IRS Criminal Investigation San Francisco Field Office Acting Special Agent in Charge David Lowe. “Perkins’ lengthy prison sentence and massive restitution order reflects the gravity of the defendant’s actions and makes clear that when someone lies about performance, conceals losses, and siphons off other people’s money for themselves, IRS CI will uncover the truth.” The case was investigated jointly by the FBI Salt Lake City Field Office, St. George Resident Agency and IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), and the Utah Division of Securities. Assistant United States Attorneys Christopher Burton, Joseph Hood, and Travis K. Elder of The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah prosecuted the case.


title: Aneth Woman Indicted for Physically Abusing Her Twin Babies

body_text: SALT LAKE CITY , Utah – A federal grand jury in Salt Lake City returned an indictment charging the mother of twin three-month-old babies with child abuse charges after they were flown to Primary Children’s Hospital (PCH) from Blanding for severe injuries including a broken arm, multiple fractures and a severe brain hemorrhage, all allegedly caused by their mother who was their full-time caretaker. Fayette Whitehorse, 27, of Aneth, Utah, was initially charged by complaint on August 26, 2026. According to court documents, on August 24, 2026, the victims, who are twin siblings born May 18, 2026, were life-flighted from Blue Mountain Hospital located in Blanding, Utah, to Primary Children’s Hospital in Salt Lake City. The parents of the victims went to the hospital because one of the babies had a limp arm that caused her to cry out in pain. An x-ray was conducted on the baby’s arm, and she was diagnosed with a broken humerus. In the same x-ray, medical providers also noticed a fractured rib. Later testing showed that the baby girl also had a fractured knee. Based on her injuries, her twin brother was also screened and tested for injuries and a CT scan revealed a significant brain hemorrhage along with a fracture in his radius bone and fractures in different stages of healing on three of his ribs. Whitehorse is charged with two counts of aggravated child abuse while within Indian Country. A jury trial is scheduled for November 10, 2026, at the Orrin G. Hatch United States Courthouse in downtown Salt Lake City. United States Attorney Melissa Holyoak of the District of Utah made the announcement. The case is being investigated by the FBI Salt Lake City Field Office, Monticello Resident Agency. Assistant United States Attorneys Tanner Zumwalt and Sam Pead are prosecuting the case. 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: Fayette County Man Previously Convicted of Violating Clean Water Act Sentenced to Prison for Filing False Tax Return

component: National Fraud Enforcement Division

body_text: CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Michael Graves, 70, of Charlton Heights, was sentenced today to six months in prison and ordered to pay $266,053 in restitution for filing a false tax return. Graves admitted to causing tax losses totaling $266,053 by underreporting his income. According to court documents and statements made in court, on November 15, 2021, Graves filed a Form 1040, U.S. Individual Tax Return for tax year 2016 that falsely listed his income as $816. Graves’ actual tax income for 2016 was approximately $427,256, and his false tax return resulted in a tax loss to the Internal Revenue Service of approximately $125,285. As part of his guilty plea, Graves admitted to filing the false tax return for 2016. Graves further admitted that he falsely listed his annual income as $816 on tax returns for years 2017 to 2020, that the total amount of income he failed to report on his returns from 2016 to 2020 was approximately $1,035,419, and that the total tax liability that he wrongly withheld from the U.S. Treasury Department from 2016 through 2020 was approximately $266,053. During the time period, Graves owned and operated West Virginia Environmental Services, Inc. (WVES). Graves and WVES were paid over $9.8 million from 2006 to 2020 to accept industrial waste at a Fayette County landfill and treat the resulting contaminated liquid or leachate. On February 22, 2023, Graves pleaded guilty as an individual and on behalf of WVES to violating the Clean Water Act, admitting they failed to maintain the landfill’s leachate collection for several years beginning in at least 2016. This failure by Graves and WVES caused the discharge of toxic pollutants including arsenic, hexavalent chromium, and selenium into Jarrett Branch, a tributary that flows into the Kanawha River near Alloy. On December 21, 2023, Graves was sentenced to one year of incarceration, to be served on home confinement as part of a five-year term of federal probation, and fined $10,000. WVES was fined $500,000 and placed on corporate probation for three years. United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigations (IRS-CI). The Criminal Investigative Division of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection investigated the Clean Water Act violations, which brought the false tax returns to light. The Department of Justice has created the National Fraud Enforcement Division . The core mission of the Fraud Division is to zealously investigate and prosecute those who steal or fraudulently misuse taxpayer dollars. Department of Justice efforts to combat fraud support President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs. United States District Judge Thomas E. Johnston imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Erik S. Goes 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-31. ###


title: Cincinnati Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Drug Crime

component: USAO - West Virginia, Southern

body_text: CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Dondre Hudson, 28, of Cincinnati, Ohio, pleaded guilty today to use of a communication facility to facilitate a drug trafficking offense. According to court documents and statements made in court, on August 22, 2025, Hudson picked up a package containing methamphetamine in Dunbar, West Virginia, and delivered it to a location in St. Albans. As part of his guilty plea, Hudson admitted that he knew the package contained a controlled substance, that he communicated by cell phone with another individual who directed him where to deliver it, and that the individual was a co-conspirator in a methamphetamine trafficking scheme. Hudson further admitted that he became aware of and knowingly and intentionally participated in the methamphetamine trafficking conspiracy prior to August 2025. Hudson assisted the conspiracy by delivering tens of thousands of dollars to a methamphetamine supplier on multiple occasions. Hudson used his cell phone to facilitate drug trafficking offenses during the conspiracy, coordinating with the co-conspirator and the supplier to facilitate the money deliveries. Hudson is scheduled to be sentenced on December 17, 2026, and faces a maximum penalty of four years in prison, up to one year of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000. United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network Team (MDENT), and the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office. MDENT is composed of the Charleston Police Department, the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office, the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office, the Nitro Police Department, the St. Albans Police Department, and the South Charleston Police Department. United States District Judge Thomas E. Johnston presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Jeremy B. Wolfe is prosecuting the case. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:26-cr-77. ###


title: Sex offender sentenced to life in prison for multiple offenses involving the sexual exploitation of children

component: USAO - Texas, Southern

body_text: HOUSTON – A 46-year-old Houston resident has been sentenced for failure to register as a sex offender, possession of child pornography, sexual exploitation of children, and coercion and enticement. Dustin Gentry pleaded guilty May 11. U.S. District Judge George C. Hanks has now sentenced him to life in federal prison. At the hearing Sept. 2, the court heard additional information that Gentry was previously convicted of possessing child sexual abuse material (CSAM) and continued to do so after his first conviction. Gentry targeted victims younger than 12 and told them how to pose and take their clothes off, while he posed as someone younger. Gentry also tried to entice one victim to create sexually explicit images of their even younger siblings. The court also heard that the victims in this case have been harmed forever from this conduct. In handing down the prison terms, Judge Hanks called Gentry “every parent’s worst nightmare” and a “predator willing to destroy children’s lives,” noting the unbearable and horrific pain and suffering he inflicted. “You have demonstrated you aren’t going to stop unless physically unable to do it again,” said Hanks. “Every life has value, including yours. But at the same time, you can’t use yours to harm others. You will never be in a position to do what you did again.” Gentry was further ordered to pay $10,000 in restitution to a victim in the case and will be ordered to re-register as a sex offender. Following a 2010 conviction for possession of child pornography, Gentry was ordered to register as a sex offender and was required to report any changes to online identifiers. However, the investigation revealed Gentry failed to do so. Law enforcement executed a search warrant on Gentry’s residence and discovered over 1,000 images of CSAM on his electronic devices. A further search revealed conversations with multiple minors requesting more CSAM. The messages revealed he directed victims as young as 12 to send explicit photos and instructed them how to pose in them. Gentry has been and will remain in custody pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future. FBI conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Celia Moyer is 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: Alien smuggler lands decades in prison for conspiracy spanning 15 months that left three dead

body_text: McALLEN, Texas – A 27-year-old McAllen resident has been ordered to prison for his role in a long-term alien smuggling scheme that involved several high-speed pursuits. Jose Manuel Silva-Lopez pleaded guilty Dec. 18, 2025. U.S. District Judge Drew B. Tipton has now ordered him to serve 360 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by three years of supervised release. The court also imposed a $10,000 special assessment. At the hearing, the court heard that Silva-Lopez created a risk of death or serious bodily injury by recruiting teenage drivers and instructing them to engage in high-speed pursuits from law enforcement. The court also heard that Silva-Lopez showed no remorse after the fatality event that claimed the life of three, including the minor driver, because he continued to recruit juvenile drivers and instructed them to flee from law enforcement. In handing down the sentence, Judge Tipton noted the risk of vehicular pursuits in alien smuggling events and the role Silva-Lopez played in the three deaths. The investigation revealed Silva-Lopez had been operating an alien smuggling ring in the Rio Grande Valley as far back as June 2023. He had utilized various social media platforms to recruit drivers, including juveniles as young as 14 years of age. Silva-Lopez would track the location of the drivers, direct them to pick up points to retrieve aliens who had just crossed the Rio Grande River, and take them to various stash houses across the Rio Grande Valley. During the smuggling events, Silva-Lopez instructed drivers to flee from law enforcement. On two occasions, the load vehicles fled from authorities in high-speed pursuits and ultimately caught on fire. A third pursuit resulted in speeds of over 120 miles per hour. On Jan. 17, 2024, Silva-Lopez coordinated another smuggling event with a juvenile driver. Authorities observed the driver pick up two aliens from the river and attempted to conduct a traffic stop, but the driver fled. Several minutes later, they discovered a crash nearby. The vehicle had lost control around a sharp turn and struck a parked trailer. The driver and two passengers ultimately succumbed to their injuries. During the event, the driver had been on the phone with Silva-Lopez. Law enforcement determined Silva-Lopez had coordinated at least 21 separate alien smuggling events from June 2023 through September 2024. To date, a total of 20 drivers have been prosecuted and sentenced. Silva-Lopez has been and will remain in custody pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future. Border Patrol conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Devin V. Walker prosecuted the case.


title: Grand jury indicts former community school superintendent, business partner in $8 million fraud scheme

component: USAO - Ohio, Southern

body_text: CINCINNATI – A federal grand jury has indicted the former superintendent and operator of a local community school and a business partner with wire fraud and other crimes related to an $8 million fraud and kickback scheme. Leondo Ramone Davenport, 50, of Cincinnati, and Jonathan Larry Ballew, 62, of Phoenix, Arizona, were arrested this morning by federal agents. “We’re putting an end to fraudsters exploiting public trust and profiting off of the American taxpayer,” said U.S. Attorney Dominick S. Gerace II. “Offenders should know that my Office will work hard to ensure that those responsible for fraud end up paying the price and come to understand that the juice is not worth the squeeze.” “This indictment alleges a brazen scheme that stole from both taxpayers and students,” said Assistant Attorney General Colin McDonald of the Justice Department’s National Fraud Enforcement Division. “Education dollars exist to support the learning and development of American children—not to fund the lifestyles of unscrupulous school officials. The Fraud Division commends the work of our federal and state partners whose efforts were essential in bringing these charges and ensuring that those who abuse positions of trust are held accountable.” “Fraud against the government is fraud against every taxpayer and we are all victims of these schemes,” stated FBI Cincinnati Special Agent in Charge Jason Cromartie. “The FBI and Department of Justice are committed to rooting out fraud and holding accountable those who conduct illegal activities.” “This was an egregious kickback scheme by individuals using taxpayer resources to enrich themselves,” Auditor Faber said. “Thanks to the good work of the U.S. Attorney, the FBI and our other partners in law enforcement for pursuing justice in this case. Our investigation also continues, and we look forward to working alongside the Hamilton County Prosecutor's Office to ensure everyone involved in these crimes is held accountable for their actions.” Davenport served as the superintendent of Dohn Community High School from 2015 to 2019. Through an LLC he incorporated, Dohn served as the operator of the school from 2019 until 2024. Dohn was incorporated in Ohio as a not-for-profit organization around 1999 to serve as an addiction recovery program for high school students. It operated as a community school under Ohio law from approximately 2001 until 2025. In Ohio, a community school created under state law is a public school, independent of any school district. Ballew incorporated at least four entities allegedly purporting to provide educational services, training, technology, staffing, and school construction and remodeling services to Dohn. The eight-count indictment alleges that, from 2021 to 2024, Davenport and Ballew participated in a kickback scheme to defraud the school. Ballew allegedly submitted false and fraudulent invoices to Dohn on behalf of the entities he controlled. Davenport allegedly authorized Dohn to pay the invoices and received a kickback in return. In total, during this time, Davenport allegedly authorized Dohn to pay over $8 million to Ballew and Ballew correspondingly paid over $4 million back to Davenport. The charging document details that the defendants allegedly spent the money on luxury automobiles and rental properties. For example, in October 2023, Davenport and Ballew both signed a two-year rental agreement for a luxury vacation property near Miami, Florida, for $30,000 per month. Davenport and Ballew are each charged with wire fraud, a federal crime punishable by up to 20 years in prison and engaging in monetary transactions in property derived from unlawful activity, which carries a potential penalty of up to 10 years in prison. Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Jason Cromartie, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division; and Ohio Auditor of State Keith Faber announced the charges. Assistant United States Attorney Matthew C. Singer is representing the United States in this case. On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (“Fraud Division”). The Fraud Division is 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. An indictment merely contains allegations, and defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law. # # #


title: Iowa Men Sentenced to Federal Prison for Drug and Gun Charges

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

body_text: DAVENPORT, Iowa – Three Iowa men were sentenced to federal prison for methamphetamine and firearms-related offenses. According to public court documents and evidence presented at sentencing, three men engaged in distribution of methamphetamine across the Quad Cities area. The men were responsible for providing approximately 25 pounds of methamphetamine for distribution in the Quad Cities. On March 17, 2026, Jacob Daniel Sheley, 27, of Clinton, also known as “Chili,” was sentenced to a 25-year prison term, followed by a ten-year term of supervised release. Sheley pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. During a February 2025 search warrant at Sheley’s Clinton residence, law enforcement found methamphetamine, cocaine, a loaded firearm, and more than $6000 in drug proceeds. In 2020, Sheley was convicted of possession with intent to deliver methamphetamine in the Iowa District Court for Clinton County. On June 16, 2026, Jacob Daniel Timmsen, 35, of Durant, was sentenced to 284 months, followed by a five-year term of supervised release. Timmsen pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, felon in possession of a firearm, brandishing a firearm during and in relation to drug trafficking, and possession with intent to distribute a mixture containing fentanyl. On September 1, 2026, Cody Scott Sheese, 27, of Davenport, also known as “Cody Tuttle” and “Nugget,” was sentenced to a 20-year prison term, followed by a ten-year term of supervised release. Sheese pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime. Sheese was on supervised release at the time of this offense. Sheese’s supervised release was revoked and was sentenced to 33 months imprisonment to run consecutive to the 20-year prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. United States Attorney David C. Waterman of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The Scott County Sheriff’s Office, Bettendorf Police Department, Clinton Police Department, Muscatine County Drug Task Force, Muscatine County Sheriff’s Office, Muscatine Police Department, Davenport Police Department, and Bureau of Alcohol, Tabacco, Firearms, and Explosives investigated 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. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.


title: Burlington Man Sentenced to Over 6 Years in Federal Prison for Firearm Charges

component: USAO - Iowa, Southern

body_text: DAVENPORT, Iowa – A Burlington, Iowa man was sentenced on September 1, 2026, to 78 months in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a felon. According to public court documents and evidence presented at sentencing, between August 2025, and November 2025, Stone Thomas Graham, 26, possessed at least three firearms. Graham is prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition as a result of a conviction stemming from an incident in November 2019, during which he discharged at firearm at other people, including police officers. Graham was granted parole for the state offense in May 2024 and discharged from that parole in August 2025, days before he possessed firearms. One of the firearms Graham possessed in 2025 was the same pump-action shotgun he possessed in November 2019. After completing his term of imprisonment, Graham will be required to serve a three-year term of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system. United States Attorney David C. Waterman of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The Southwest Iowa Narcotics Enforcement Task Force investigated 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. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.


title: Federal prison sentences handed down for firearm-related charges

body_text: AUGUSTA, Georgia: Three men have been sentenced to prison following firearms related plea agreements. The sentences were imposed by U.S. District Court Judge J. Randal Hall and announced by Margaret E. “Meg” Heap, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. They include: Jordan Williams-Carswell , 26, of North Augusta, South Carolina, was sentenced to 41 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release and a $1,500 fine after pleading guilty to Illegal Possession of a Machinegun. Court documents and testimony show that in January 2024, Williams-Carswell was illegally in possession of a Glock Model 20, 10 mm pistol equipped with a machinegun conversion device (MCD). A MCD allows a firearm to fire multiple rounds with one pull of the trigger, converting a semi-automatic firearm into a fully automatic machinegun. Jordan James Perkins , 24, of Sardis, Georgia, was sentenced to 33 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release and a $1,500 fine after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. In June 2025, Richmond County Sheriff’s Office attempted a traffic stop and Perkins fled. While eluding law enforcement, Perkins discarded a Glock, Model 29, 10 mm pistol from the vehicle, which deputies later discovered during a search of the area. Pierre Horton , 36, of Augusta, was sentenced to 33 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release and a $1,500 fine after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. In November 2025, Horton was found in possession of a Smith & Wesson, SD40, .40 caliber pistol during a traffic stop by Richmond County Sheriff’s Office. There is no parole in the federal system. Under federal law, it is prohibited for previously convicted felons to possess firearms or ammunition. “These sentences demonstrate the commitment this office and our law enforcement partners take to safeguard our communities,” said U.S. Attorney Heap. “Illegally possessed and modified guns are a threat to neighborhoods far and wide; and those who endanger the public will face the consequences for their crimes.” “These cases send a clear message: illegally possessing or modifying firearms carries serious consequences,” said ATF Assistant Special Agent in Charge Brian Graves. “The strong partnership among ATF, the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office was essential to holding these defendants accountable and protecting the citizens of the Augusta area.” The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office assisted in the investigation of these cases. These cases were prosecuted for the United States by Southern District of Georgia Assistant U.S. Attorneys Henry W. Syms Jr. and Joshua Kyle Davis.


title: Sioux Falls Gang Members Indicted for Racketeering Involving Attempted Murder and Firearms Offenses

component: USAO - South Dakota

body_text: SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that a federal grand jury has indicted three Sioux Falls, South Dakota, men for Conspiracy to Murder in Aid of Racketeering; Attempted Murder in Aid of Racketeering; Assault with a Dangerous Weapon in Aid of Racketeering; Possession, Brandishing, and Discharge of a Firearm During and in Furtherance of a Crime of Violence; and Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person. The indictment was filed in August 2026. Nathan Carlos Hernandez, age 20, appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Veronica L. Duffy on August 26, 2026, and pleaded not guilty to the Indictment. Sebastian Michael Waters, age 19, appeared before Magistrate Judge Duffy on August 20, 2026, and pleaded not guilty to the Indictment. Tino Sage Roubideaux, age 29, appeared before Magistrate Judge Duffy on August 10, 2026, and pleaded not guilty to the Indictment. The maximum penalty upon conviction for Conspiracy to Murder in Aid of Racketeering and for Attempted Murder in Aid of Racketeering and Aiding and Abetting is 10 years’ imprisonment. The maximum penalty upon conviction for Assault with a Dangerous Weapon in Aid of Racketeering and Aiding and Abetting is 20 years’ imprisonment. The maximum penalty upon conviction for Discharging a Firearm during and in relation to a Crime of Violence and Aiding and Abetting is a mandatory minimum of 10 years’ up to Life imprisonment, to be served consecutively to the crime of violence of attempted murder or assault with a dangerous weapon. The maximum penalty upon conviction for Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person is 15 years imprisonment. The charges also carry a maximum fine of up to $250,000, a term of supervised release of up to five years following a term of imprisonment, a special assessment, forfeiture, and restitution. According to the charging document, Hernandez, Waters, and Roubideaux were members of the Gangster Disciples (GD), a gang with members and associates located throughout Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and elsewhere. The gang is alleged to have committed, attempted to commit, and conspired to commit acts of violence, including acts involving assault, as well as other crimes, including drug dealing and firearms trafficking. Participation in criminal activity by a GD member (sometimes referred to as “work”), especially violence directed at persons perceived as a threat to the gang, increased the respect accorded to the member and could result in the member’s elevation and increased status within the gang. One of the alleged purposes of the gang was to keep victims, other gang members, rivals, and community members in fear of the gang. As alleged in the indictment, Hernandez, Waters, and Roubideaux conspired to murder a person, and on January 4, 2026, these defendants located the victim at a business in Sioux Falls and attempted to murder him by shooting him more than one time. Two firearms were used in the attack. As gang members, these defendants sought to maintain or increase their respective position within the Gangster Disciples. 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 Jeremy R. Jehangiri is prosecuting the case. All defendants were remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending trial. A trial date of October 26, 2026, has been set.


title: North Charleston Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Federal Prison for Trafficking Methamphetamine

body_text: CHARLESTON, S.C. — Jerell Emmanuel Risher, 36, of North Charleston, was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to trafficking methamphetamine. Evidence presented in court showed that on March 7, 2024, investigators intercepted a package that was shipped from California to a North Charleston address under a false name. The package contained nearly five kilograms of pure methamphetamine. Investigators delivered the package under surveillance, and Risher picked it up from the location. When police tried to stop him, Risher sped away, reaching 111 mph, running several red lights, and throwing the package from his vehicle. He left the vehicle on a dead-end road, climbed two fences, and ran onto a school campus while classes were in session. Investigators later obtained his phone and saw he tracked the package 13 times the day it was intercepted. Then, on Sept.17, 2024, while on bond for a state drug trafficking offense, Risher sold a law enforcement source 112 grams of pure methamphetamine at a North Charleston business. 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. United States District Judge Richard M. Gergel sentenced Risher to 15 years in federal prison, to be followed by five years of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system. This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Charleston Police Department, the Charleston County Sheriff's Office, the North Charleston Police Department, and the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division. Assistant U.S. Attorney Chris Lietzow prosecuted the case.


title: Florence County Men Plead Guilty to Stealing Firearms from Florence Armory

body_text: FLORENCE, S.C. — Benjamin Lee Mercer, Sr., 54, of Florence, has pleaded guilty to stealing firearms from a dealer and illegally possessing firearms. Mercer’s co-defendant and son, Benjamin Lee Mercer, Jr., 31, of Florence, previously pleaded guilty to stealing firearms from a dealer and brandishing and discharging a firearm during a crime of violence. Evidence obtained in the investigation revealed that around 2:52 a.m. on May 12, 2024, two men—later identified as Mercer, Sr. and Mercer, Jr.—burglarized the Palmetto State Armory, a federal firearms licensee in Florence. They stole 152 firearms. On May 22, 2024, law enforcement executed a search warrant at a trailer in Darlington associated with Mercer, Sr. and Mercer, Jr. and found 15 firearms, all of which were stolen from the Palmetto State Armory. Shortly before executing the search warrant, law enforcement saw Mercer, Sr. get into a truck and leave the trailer. Law enforcement followed Mercer, Sr., but he fled and evaded law enforcement. During the pursuit, Mercer, Sr. was captured on video discarding a firearm. Law enforcement recovered the firearm and confirmed it was stolen from the Palmetto State Armory. On June 17, 2024, law enforcement used a confidential informant to arrange a controlled purchase of 21 firearms from Mercer, Jr. at the Darlington trailer. During the buy, Mercer, Jr. pulled out a handgun, pistol whipped the informant, and threatened to kill the informant. Ultimately, the informant threw their car keys and the buy money on the ground, which Mercer, Jr. took and then left in the informant’s car. Law enforcement caught up to Mercer, Jr., and a high-speed chase ensued through Darlington and Florence counties. During the chase, Mercer, Jr. pointed a firearm out of the driver’s side window and repeatedly fired at law enforcement. Mercer, Jr. fled to an apartment in Florence, where he barricaded himself inside but ultimately surrendered to law enforcement. Law enforcement executed a search warrant at the apartment, where they found a loaded handgun along with the buy money taken from the informant. Mercer, Jr. faces a maximum penalty of life in federal prison. He also faces a fine of up to $250,000, and up to five years of supervision to follow the term of imprisonment. Mercer, Sr. faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in federal prison. He also faces a fine of up to $250,000, and up to three years of supervision to follow the term of imprisonment. United States District Judge Joseph Dawson, III accepted the guilty pleas and will sentence both defendants after receiving and reviewing sentencing reports prepared by the U.S. Probation Office. 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 . This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Florence County Sheriff’s Office, the Florence Police Department, and the Darlington County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren Hummel is prosecuting the case. ###