title: Tetra Tech EC Inc. Agrees to Pay $57M to Settle False Claims Act Allegations for Falsifying Soil Test Results at the Hunters Point Naval Shipyard in San Francisco

component: Civil Division

body_text: Tetra Tech EC Inc. (Tetra Tech), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Tetra Tech, Inc., paid $57 million to resolve False Claims Act allegations that it fabricated work and falsified data the U.S. Department of the Navy relied on to determine whether the former Hunters Point Naval Shipyard (HPNS) in the San Francisco Bay was free from harmful radiation. In a lawsuit filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, the government alleged that, pursuant to contracts issued by the Navy between 2003 and 2014, Tetra Tech was required to investigate the soil and buildings at HPNS and to remediate any areas where radiation was excessive so that the property could be transferred to the City of San Francisco for redevelopment. The government alleged that Tetra Tech instructed field technicians to discard soil samples collected from potentially contaminated locations, replace the discarded samples with “clean” soil known to satisfy the release criteria, and to submit the replaced samples for laboratory analysis. The complaint further alleged that Tetra Tech intentionally manipulated scan results in its database that falsely represented that scans taken at different locations were conducted by the same technician at the same time. The government alleged that Tetra Tech benefited from this misconduct by receiving unearned contract award fees and avoiding obligations to perform additional remediation work, thereby decreasing its costs and increasing its profits. “We expect companies contracting with the government to do business honestly and fairly,” said Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “This settlement demonstrates the Department’s continuing commitment to hold accountable those who fail to fulfill their responsibilities in providing services to the U.S. military.” “Over the past two decades, the federal government has dedicated significant resources to ensuring that the Hunters Point Naval Shipyard is free from harmful radiation and safe for public use. This has been a critical project for the Hunters Point community and the federal government, and it should have been just as important to the contractor that the government selected and paid to perform radiological testing and remediation at the site,” said U.S. Attorney Craig H. Missakian for the Northern District of California. “This litigation and settlement send a clear message that the government will hold contractors accountable for knowingly defrauding taxpayers by flouting their duties.” “By falsifying work claims and manipulating critical data, Tetra Tech put its own financial interests ahead of its commitments to the Department of the Navy, potentially placing the health and safety of the American people at risk,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Brian Merkal of the NCIS Economic Crimes Field Office. “NCIS and our federal partners remain committed to protecting the integrity of the procurement process within the Department of War.” The settlement resolves allegations filed under the qui tam or whistleblower provision of the False Claims Act, which permits private parties to file suit on behalf of the United States for false claims and share in a portion of the government’s recovery. The Act permits the United States to intervene and take over responsibility for litigating these cases, as the United States did here. The consolidated qui tam cases are captioned United States ex rel. Jahr, et al., v. Tetra Tech EC, Inc., Case No. 13-3835 (N.D. Cal.) and were brought by Arthur R. Jahr III, Elbert G. Bowers, Susan V. Andrews, Archie R. Jackson, Anthony Smith, Donald K. Wadsworth, and Robert McLean, former employees and contractors of Tetra Tech. The relators’ share of the settlement is approximately $11,970,000. The resolution obtained in this matter was the result of a coordinated effort between the Justice Department’s Civil Division, Commercial Litigation Branch, Civil Fraud Section, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of California, with assistance from the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, Defense Criminal Investigative Service, and the Defense Contract Audit Agency. The Justice Department also expresses its appreciation for the assistance provided by the Department of Navy, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. The matter was handled by Civil Division Trial Attorney Jonathan Hoerner and Assistant U.S. Attorney Savith Iyengar for the Northern District of California. This year the Administration launched the Task Force to Eliminate Fraud and the National Fraud Enforcement Division to enhance the Administration’s war on fraud, waste, and abuse in federal programs. When unscrupulous actors exploit these programs for their own financial gain, they defraud the government, harm the people these programs are designed to aid and protect, and undermine American businesses that play by the rules. The Civil Division’s FCA enforcement plays a critical role in combatting such fraudulent schemes, recovering billions of dollars for the American taxpayers, and holding wrongdoers accountable. FCA matters will continue to be on the forefront of the battle against fraud, and the Civil Division’s FCA work will support and advance the mission of the Task Force to Eliminate Fraud and the National Fraud Enforcement Division. The United States also recovered $40 million in a separate settlement under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA), also known as Superfund, that was entered by the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California on July 2, 2025. The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability.


title: Medicare Advantage Provider Monogram Health Agrees to Pay $2.4M to Settle False Claims Act Suit

body_text: Monogram Health Professional Services PC and Monogram Health Inc., (Monogram Health), headquartered in Tennessee, have agreed to pay $2.4 million to resolve allegations that they violated the False Claims Act by causing the submission of false diagnosis codes in order to increase payments that they received from the Medicare Advantage program. “When companies submit false diagnosis codes, they unlawfully exploit a system built to support vulnerable seniors,” said Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “This settlement reinforces the Department’s commitment to protecting taxpayer money and ensuring that Medicare Advantage payments are based on accurate information.” “When it comes to how federal money is being spent, taxpayers deserve to know that this Justice Department is looking out for them,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli for the Central District of California. “My office will continue to work to ensure that money for public health programs is spent how it’s intended, as today’s settlement shows.” “Health care companies that seek to inflate profits by inaccurately reporting the medical conditions of Medicare Advantage enrollees will be held accountable,” said Acting Deputy Inspector General for Investigations Miranda L. Bennett of the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS‑OIG). “This settlement underscores HHS‑OIG’s commitment to protecting the integrity of taxpayer‑funded federal health care programs. Medicare Advantage exists to deliver medically necessary care to beneficiaries, not to serve as a vehicle for improper financial gain.” Under the Medicare Advantage (MA) Program, also known as Medicare Part C, Medicare beneficiaries may opt out of traditional Medicare and enroll in private health plans offered by insurance companies known as Medicare Advantage Organizations, or MAOs. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) pays the MAOs a fixed monthly amount for each Medicare beneficiary enrolled in their plans. CMS adjusts these monthly payments to account for various “risk” factors that affect expected health expenditures for the beneficiary. In general, CMS pays MAOs more for sicker beneficiaries expected to incur higher healthcare costs and less for healthier beneficiaries expected to incur lower costs. To calculate the payment amounts, CMS uses a health-based risk adjustment model — the Hierarchical Conditions Category (HCC) model — that takes into account diagnoses reported by healthcare providers. In general, the more severe the diagnosis or costly the associated treatment, the higher the risk score and the higher the corresponding payments to the MAO. The diagnoses must be supported by the medical record of a face-to-face visit between a patient and a provider, and for outpatient visits, must have required or affected patient care, treatment, or management at the visit. Monogram provides in-home care and related services to Medicare beneficiaries enrolled in MA Plans pursuant to contracts with certain MAOs. Under these contracts, Monogram was eligible to be paid more by the MAOs if the beneficiaries in its care had higher risk scores because the MAO received higher payments from CMS for those beneficiaries. These risk sharing arrangements gave Monogram a financial incentive to submit additional diagnosis codes in order to increase its patients’ risk scores and the corresponding payments made by CMS. The settlement announced today resolves allegations that, during the period from Jan, 1, 2021 through Dec. 31, 2023, Monogram knowingly submitted diagnosis codes within the following four HCCs that were not clinically accurate, not supported by documentation in the beneficiary’s medical records, and/or did not require or affect patient care, treatment or management: HCC 21 (Protein-Calorie Malnutrition), HCC 55 (Substance Use Disorder); HCC 48 (Coagulation Defects and Other Specified Hematological Disorders), and HCC 88 (Angina Pectoris). The submission of these diagnosis codes resulted in false claims that inflated the risk scores of the Medicare Advantage beneficiaries, thereby causing CMS to make higher capitated payments to the MAOs than it would have paid without these diagnosis codes. The civil settlement includes the resolution of claims brought under the qui tam or whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act by Dr. Ajay Gupta, a physician formerly employed by Monogram. Under those provisions, a private party can file an action on behalf of the United States and receive a portion of any recovery. Dr. Gupta will receive approximately $380,000 as his share of the recovery in this case. The lawsuit is captioned U.S. ex rel. Dr. Ajay Gupta v. Monogram Health Professional Services, et. al., Case No. 2:22-cv-08758 MWF-JCx (C.D. Cal.). Monogram received credit under the Department of Justice’s guidelines in Justice Manual § 4-4.112 for taking cooperation into account in cases involving False Claims Act allegations. This year the Administration launched the Task Force to Eliminate Fraud and the National Fraud Enforcement Division to enhance the administration’s war on fraud, waste, and abuse in federal programs. When unscrupulous actors exploit these programs for their own financial gain, they defraud the government, harm the people these programs are designed to aid and protect, and undermine American businesses that play by the rules. The Civil Division’s FCA enforcement plays a critical role in combatting such fraudulent schemes, recovering billions of dollars for the American taxpayers, and holding wrongdoers accountable. FCA matters will continue to be on the forefront of the battle against fraud, and the Civil Division’s FCA work will support and advance the mission of the Task Force to Eliminate Fraud and the National Fraud Enforcement Division. The resolution obtained in this matter was the result of a coordinated effort between the Justice Department’s Civil Division, Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California with assistance from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General. The investigation and resolution of this matter illustrate the government’s emphasis on combating health care fraud. One of the most powerful tools in this effort is the False Claims Act. Tips and complaints from all sources about potential fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement, can be reported to the Department of Health and Human Services at 800-HHS-TIPS (800-447-8477). The matter was investigated by Fraud Section Attorney Jennifer Cook and Assistant U.S. Attorney Hunter B. Thomson for the Central District of California. The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability. Note : This release has been updated from a previous version


title: Justice Department Sues Ohio Landlord for Sexual Harassment and Retaliation Against Female Tenants

component: Civil Rights Division

body_text: The Justice Department announced today that it has filed a lawsuit against Alfred Falgiani Jr., 72, of Girard, Ohio, the owner and manager of rental properties located in and around Girard, Ohio, for engaging in sexual harassment and retaliation in violation of the Fair Housing Act. The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, alleges that Falgiani sexually harassed female tenants beginning in 2008. According to the complaint, Falgiani offered housing-related benefits in exchange for sexual contact, made unwelcome sexual comments and advances to female tenants, subjected female tenants to unwelcome touching and groping, and took adverse housing-related actions against female tenants who refused his sexual advances. “When landlords exploit their position of power to harass or intimidate tenants, they violate the law,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The Justice Department will continue to hold accountable those who abuse vulnerable residents and will work tirelessly to ensure that tenants can live free from sexual harassment and coercion.” “No one should have to live in fear of a landlord making highly inappropriate advances,” said U.S. Attorney David M. Toepfer for the Northern District of Ohio. “Housing owners and managers who engage in loathsome behavior and infringe on a person’s right to feel secure in their own home will face justice.” The lawsuit seeks monetary damages to compensate persons harmed by the alleged harassment, civil penalties to vindicate the public interest, and a court order barring future discrimination. Individuals who believe that they may have been victims of sexual harassment or other types of housing discrimination at rental dwellings owned or managed by Alfred Falgiani, or who have other information that may be relevant to this case, should contact the Housing Discrimination Tip Line at 1-833-591-0291 (press 1 for English, press 2 for Sexual Harassment, then press 4 to leave a message related to Alfred Falgiani), or send an email to Talk.Falgiani@usdoj.gov . Individuals may also submit a report online . More information about the Civil Rights Division and the laws it enforces is available at www.justice.gov/crt . This lawsuit is part of the Justice Department’s Sexual Harassment in Housing Initiative . The initiative, which the department launched in October 2017, seeks to address and raise awareness about sexual harassment by landlords, property managers, maintenance workers, loan officers and other people who have control over housing. Since launching the initiative, the department has filed 54 lawsuits alleging sexual harassment in housing and recovered over $19 million for victims of such harassment.


title: Federal Jury in Chicago Convicts Engineer for Stealing Trade Secrets from Philips Medical Systems on Behalf of Chinese Competitor

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: A federal jury in Chicago convicted a former engineer at Philips Medical Systems Friday of conspiring to steal Philips’ trade secrets and bring them to a Chinese competitor. “The theft of proprietary information is a serious economic crime that harms American jobs and stifles critically important research and development driving the future of our nation,” said U.S. Attorney Andrew S. Boutros for the Northern District of Illinois. “When individuals, corporate entities, or nation states steal proprietary information, they are threatening our country’s technological edge. The Chicago U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to prosecute trade secret theft to protect innovation, ensure fair competition, and safeguard national economic security.” “Jen acted at the expense of his U.S. employer by stealing closely guarded x-ray technology trade secrets for the benefit of a Chinese competitor,” said Assistant Director Roman Rozhavsky of the FBI’s Counterintelligence and Espionage Division. “Protecting America’s private sector companies is a priority for the FBI, and this conviction underscores our commitment to defend the homeland. Know that if you choose to steal trade secrets, the FBI will find you and hold you accountable.” Chih-Yee Jen, 71, of Mequon, Wisconsin, worked as an engineer at Philips’ facility in Aurora, Illinois, where employees researched, developed, and manufactured X-ray tubes used in computed tomography (CT) medical imaging machines. Through its Dunlee brand, Philips spent years developing proprietary X-ray technology and selling various devices to medical facilities. In 2017, as Philips prepared to close the facility in Aurora, China-based Kunshan GuoLi Electronic Technology Co Ltd. and a Kunshan GuoLi vice president, Xiaoqin Du, began communicating with Jen about creating a U.S. subsidiary for Kunshan GuoLi to help it compete with Philips in developing, manufacturing, and selling X-ray tubes. While still employed at Philips, Jen began sharing confidential Philips documents with Kunshan GuoLi and Du and successfully recruited multiple Philips engineers to join him at the Kunshan GuoLi subsidiary. Jen copied Philips’ proprietary X-ray trade secret information from internal Philips databases and used the stolen information in connection with his new work developing the technology for the Kunshan GuoLi subsidiary. After a week-long trial, Jen was convicted of both counts against him, including conspiracy to steal, misappropriate, or possess trade secrets and possession or attempted possession of stolen trade secrets. U.S. District Judge Edmond E. Chang set Jen’s sentencing for Jan. 5, 2027, at 10:00 a.m. Two other former Philips engineers — Fince Tendian, 57, of Aurora, Illinois, and Vladimir Nevtonenko, 77, of Arlington Heights, Illinois — pleaded guilty prior to trial and admitted possessing stolen trade secrets. Judge Chang scheduled Nevtonenko’s sentencing for Dec. 1 at 10:00 a.m., and Tendian’s sentencing for Dec. 8 at 10:00 a.m. Du, 64, of Suzhou, China, Kunshan GuoLi, and a related Chinese company, Kunshan Yiyuan Medical Technology Co. Ltd., were also indicted in the case. They were placed on the court’s Fugitive Calendar and have not been arraigned. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ramon Villalpando and Michael Maione for the Northern District of Illinois prosecuted the case.


title: Department of Justice Announces Launch of National Fraud Detection Center to Combat Fraud Against Taxpayer-Funded Programs

body_text: Today, the U.S. Department of Justice announced the launch of the National Fraud Detection Center (NFDC), a prosecutor-led, multi-agency team designed to investigate the most harmful actors defrauding federal government programs, including illicit actors overseas and those operating fraud schemes across federal programs. The NFDC will bring together law enforcement agencies and analytical capabilities to generate criminal leads to drive more impactful prosecutions and enhance fraud-fighting results for the American people. “The creation of the NFDC marks a decisive shift in how the federal government detects and investigates complex fraud,” said Assistant Attorney General Colin McDonald of the Justice Department’s National Fraud Enforcement Division. “By breaking down institutional silos, embedding analysts from across the IG community, and leveraging shared technology, the NFDC is actively closing the window of opportunity for bad actors who seek to exploit taxpayer dollars. Today’s announcement sends a clear message: if you defraud federal programs, we have the tools and the law enforcement partners to find you.” The NFDC solves for a lack of cross-program visibility that has long hindered efforts to deter fraud on taxpayer-funded programs and has enabled some fraud actors to further perpetrate schemes across multiple taxpayer-funded programs without detection. The NFDC closes this gap by bringing partners across federal and state government together to break down silos and work collaboratively in a whole-of-government approach to eliminate fraud. The NFDC’s success relies directly on the collaborative strength of our partners across federal and state government. The inaugural members of the NFDC include the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, IRS Criminal Investigation, FinCEN, the Pandemic Response Accountability Committee, the Treasury Department, and the Offices of Inspector General for the Departments of Agriculture, Education, Health and Human Services, Homeland Security, Housing and Urban Development, Interior, Labor, Veterans Affairs, Department of War Office of Inspector General’s Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS), the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, Small Business Administration, and Social Security Administration. The NFDC presents a unified front to identify fraud across agencies and prosecute the most nefarious criminals, domestic and abroad. The Department also extends its sincere gratitude to our state partners whose efforts further power the NFDC. We proudly acknowledge the leadership and contributions of the Secretaries of State of Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, Ohio, and South Carolina; the State Treasurers of Florida, Mississippi, Ohio, and South Carolina; and the South Carolina Department of Social Services. These partnerships strengthen our capacity to detect fraud and protect taxpayer dollars. This Fraud Division initiative is being led by Acting Assistant Director Amanda Riedel of the Executive Office for U.S. Attorneys and Acting Chief Cody Matthew Herche of the Global Trade & Commerce Enforcement Section. For more information on the Department’s anti-fraud enforcement efforts, visit www.justice.gov/fraud . On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the Fraud Division. The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.


title: AiNET Corp. and Deepak Jain Agree to Pay $1.8M to Resolve Allegations of Submitting False Claims to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission for Data Center Services

body_text: AiNET Corp. and its former Chief Executive Officer Deepak Jain have agreed to pay $1,800,000 to resolve allegations that they violated the False Claims Act by knowingly submitting false claims for data center services provided under a contract with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). AiNET operates a data center in Beltsville, Maryland. “Those who do business with the government must do so fairly and honestly,” said Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “We will continue to pursue contractors that knowingly fail to provide required services to federal agencies.” “Protecting taxpayer dollars is an OIG priority,” said SEC Inspector General Kevin Muhlendorf. “The SEC OIG’s dedicated team of investigators and auditors works tirelessly to hold contractors accountable, and we appreciate our continued partnership with the Department of Justice in that shared endeavor.” The settlement resolves allegations that AiNET and Deepak Jain fraudulently induced the SEC to enter the contract by falsely certifying that the AiNET data center met at least Tier III standards as defined by the Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA) Standards for Data Centers, TIA 942, and as required by the SEC contract. The United States alleged that the AiNET data center failed to comply with Tier III standards and that AiNet and Jain falsely certified to the SEC that experts from an entity called UpTime Council had inspected the data center and determined it was Tier IV, as defined by TIA 942. The United States alleged that these certifications were false because UpTime Council was not an operating company and never inspected the AiNET data center. This year the Administration launched the Task Force to Eliminate Fraud and the National Fraud Enforcement Division to enhance the Administration’s war on fraud, waste, and abuse in federal programs. When unscrupulous actors exploit these programs for their own financial gain, they defraud the government, harm the people these programs are designed to aid and protect, and undermine American businesses that play by the rules. The Civil Division’s FCA enforcement plays a critical role in combatting such fraudulent schemes, recovering billions of dollars for the American taxpayers, and holding wrongdoers accountable. FCA matters will continue to be on the forefront of the battle against fraud, and the Civil Division’s FCA work will support and advance the mission of the Task Force to Eliminate Fraud and the National Fraud Enforcement Division. The resolution obtained in this matter was the result of a coordinated effort between the Justice Department’s Civil Division, Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section, and the SEC, Office of the Inspector General. Senior Trial Attorney Greg Pearson of the Fraud Section handled the matter. The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability.


title: Virginia Company to Pay $2.5 Million In Anti-Fraud Case

component: USAO - Virginia, Western

body_text: ROANOKE, Va. – EBI LLC (“EBI”), a Virginia company with its principal place of business in Danville, Virginia, has agreed to pay $2,541,742.12 to resolve allegations that it fraudulently obtained a Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) loan from the U.S. Small Business Administration (“SBA”) for which it was not eligible. PPP was an emergency loan program established by Congress in March 2020 under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (“CARES”) Act, and administered by the SBA. The CARES Act is a federal law enacted in March of 2020, that was designed to provide emergency financial assistance to people affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The CARES Act authorized the SBA to provide loans of up to $2 million to eligible small businesses that were experiencing a loss of revenue from the COVID-19 pandemic. A second round of PPP loans was authorized in early 2021, and to be eligible, a business was required to certify, among other things, that it had no more than 300 employees, including domestic and foreign affiliates. “The Western District of Virginia is committed to combatting waste, fraud, and abuse in all federal benefit programs,” First Assistant United States Attorney Robert N. Tracci said today. The settlement resolves allegations that EBI was ineligible for its second draw PPP loan because it was affiliated with a Polish company known as COM40 Spółka z Ograniczoną Odpowiedzialnością Spółka Komandytowa, also known as Com40 Sp. z o.o. Sp. K. or Comforty Fabryka (“COM40”). EBI was a wholly owned subsidiary of COM40, and according to its financial filings, COM40 employed more than 3,000 people in 2020 and 2021. As a result, the United States contends that EBI was ineligible for its second draw PPP loan because it exceeded the SBA’s size standards based on affiliation rules. EBI cooperated with the government’s investigation and was proactive in its efforts to reach a resolution in this matter. The civil settlement includes the resolution of claims brought under the qui tam or whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act. Under those provisions, a private party known as a relator can file an action on behalf of the government and receive a portion of the recovery. The case was captioned United States ex rel. Aidan Forsyth v. EBI LLC, Docket No. 4:25-cv-00036 (W.D. Va.). In this case, the relator will receive a share of the settlement. First Assistant United States Attorney Robert N. Tracci and SBA General Counsel Wendell Davis made the announcement. The resolution was the result of a coordinated effort between the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Virginia and the SBA. The matter was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew G. Howells with assistance from Randall K. Martin, Trial Attorney with the SBA’s Office of General Counsel.


title: Michigan Man Sentenced for Failing to Register as a Sex Offender

body_text: CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – A self-proclaimed “sovereign diplomat” from Michigan, who had been living in a makeshift camp site in the George Washington and Jefferson National Forest, and was convicted for not registering as a convicted sex offender as required under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA), was sentenced yesterday to 33 months in federal prison. Deon Andre Green, 38, a.k.a. “Dalayah Assir Yashar’al” was convicted of failing to register as a convicted sex offender following a jury trial in May 2026. “This office will aggressively target those who place our communities at risk by failing to register as sex offenders,” First Assistant United States Attorney Robert N. Tracci said today. “I commend the U.S. Marshals Service, Virginia State Police, U.S. Forest Service, and Special Assistant United States Attorney Chris Browne for their outstanding work on this case.” According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, in December 2025, U.S. Forest Service personnel encountered Green living at a makeshift camp inside the George Washington National Forest with nine children. Despite Green’s attempts to provide officers with a fake name and forged identity documents, they were able to identify him as a Michigan sex offender convicted in 2011 of third-degree criminal sexual conduct. At that time, they referred the investigation to the U.S. Marshal’s Service. Investigators with the U.S. Marshals Service determined that Green had failed to meet his registration requirements under the SORNA. At trial, it was determined that Green stopped registering as a sex offender in 2017. At sentencing, the Court further found that Green obstructed justice by lying to and misleading law enforcement. The Court ordered that Green would be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for five years following his release from prison. First Assistant United States Attorney Robert N. Tracci and Chief Deputy U.S. Marshal Matthew Davis, Western District of Virginia made the announcement. The U.S. Marshals Service and U.S. Forest Service, and the Virginia State Police investigated the case. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Browne is prosecuting the case.


title: Bristol Woman Sentenced for Distributing Fentanyl and Methamphetamine

body_text: ABINGDON, Va. – A Bristol, Virginia woman, who conspired with others to traffic methamphetamine from Ashville, North Carolina into Washington County, Virginia, was sentenced today to 60 months in federal prison. Pamela Michelle Fansler, 52, pled guilty in December 2025 to conspiring to possess with the intent to distribute and to distribute 50 grams of methamphetamine and one count of possessing with the intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl. “This office will continue to target for priority prosecution those who profit by poisoning our communities with fentanyl, methamphetamine, and other deadly substances,” First Assistant United States Attorney Robert N. Tracci said today. “I commend the work of the Washington County Sheriff’s Office and DEA for their work on this case.” According to court documents, between July 2025 and August 2025, Fansler and others conspired to distribute methamphetamine. Specifically, Fansler traveled to Asheville, North Carolina to pick up methamphetamine and brought it back to Washington County, Virginia for redistribution. Additionally, on August 26, 2025, Fansler possessed approximately four ounces of methamphetamine and half and ounce of fentanyl that she intended to distribute to others. While transporting these drugs, she was carrying a .22 caliber pistol that she later admitted she had obtained by trading drugs. First Assistant United States Attorney Robert N. Tracci and Special Agent in Charge Christopher Goumenis of the Drug Enforcement Administration Washington Division made the announcement. The Drug Enforcement Administration and Washington County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Danielle Stone is prosecuting the case.


title: Federal Prosecutors Continue to File Hundreds of Weekly Immigration Cases in Western District of Texas

component: USAO - Texas, Western

body_text: SAN ANTONIO – Federal prosecutors in the Western District of Texas filed 235 new immigration and immigration-related criminal cases from August 14 through August 20, announced U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons. Charges were brought against several alleged alien smugglers and illegal aliens with past convictions for numerous DWIs, violent crimes, thefts, and multiple prior removals. Among the new cases, U.S. citizen Pablo Clark-Guillen was arrested and charged with alien smuggling. A criminal complaint alleges that Clark-Guillen, who has previously been convicted for alien smuggling, conspired to pick up an illegal alien from India in Fabens on August 18. The complaint alleges that when agents approached Clark-Guillen and ordered him to turn off his van, Clark-Guillen complied but broke his phone in an effort to destroy evidence, cutting his hands in the process. In addition to his prior smuggling conviction in 2024, Clark-Guillen has three prior DWI convictions. Also on August 18, U.S. Border Patrol agents investigating two separate alien smuggling events followed a vehicle to a residence in El Paso. The agents conducted an immigration inspection and confirmed that the driver, Aldo David Manjarrez-Vazquez , was an illegal alien. A criminal complaint alleges that Manjarrez-Vazquez had worked as an alien pickup driver and coordinator since March 2024, receiving approximately $720 per alien he picked up and making $250 as a coordinator. Manjarrez-Vazquez is alleged to have picked up and transported more than 10 illegal aliens in the El Paso and Tornillo areas. Jesus Gamboa-Chavez , an illegal alien from Mexico, was charged with alien smuggling after a Texas Department of Public Safety (TXDPS) trooper conducted a traffic stop and requested assistance from Homeland Security Investigations. A criminal complaint alleges that further investigation led agents to a stash house in El Paso that Gamboa-Chavez was renting. A joint operation with HSI, USBP, ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations, and TXDPS, resulted in the apprehension of 16 illegal aliens from various Central and South American countries, two of whom were minor children. One of the children was unaccompanied. In Del Rio, USBP agents arrested Luis Alfredo Navarette-Pastrana , an illegal alien from Mexico, who was just deported for the second time in June following a conviction for illegal entry. In 2020, Navarette-Pastrana was convicted for driving without a license and reckless homicide. Alejandro Diaz-Martinez , an illegal alien from Mexico, was arrested in El Indio and charged with illegal re-entry. He was convicted in March for his third DWI and sentenced to a two-year imprisonment. He was then deported on July 5. Illegal alien from Guatemala Ronald Samuel Lapop-Galicia, aka Ronald Carbajal, was transferred into ICE custody after being found in Travis County. Lapop-Galicia has five prior removals in his immigration history and has been previously convicted of four DWIs. He is charged with illegal re-entry. Mario Daniel Campos-Segura was also found in Travis County and transferred into ICE custody. Campos-Segura is an illegal alien from Mexico who has been removed from the U.S. twice and has been twice convicted of DWI. Campos-Segura is charged with illegal re-entry. These cases were referred or supported by federal law enforcement partners, including ICE, U.S. Border Patrol, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the FBI, the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), with additional assistance from state and local law enforcement partners. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Texas comprises 68 counties located in the central and western areas of Texas, encompasses nearly 93,000 square miles and an estimated population of 7.6 million people. The district includes three of the five largest cities in Texas—San Antonio, Austin and El Paso—and shares 660 miles of common border with the Republic of Mexico. Indictments and criminal complaints are merely allegations and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. ###


title: Memphis Woman with Multiple Felonies Pleads Guilty to Illegal Possession of a Firearm after Shooting Boyfriend in Domestic Violence Incident

component: USAO - Tennessee, Western

body_text: Memphis, TN – Quineshia Townsel, 29 , has pled guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm after shooting her boyfriend in a domestic violence incident. United States Attorney D. Michael Dunavant, for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the guilty plea today. According to the evidence, on December 30, 2025, officers responded to a shooting at North Watkins Street and Burnham Avenue. Officers located a vehicle that had been struck numerous times by gunfire with the victim sitting inside. Officers located 1 live .22 caliber round and 6 spent .22 caliber casings in the front yard and driveway. Upon speaking with the victim, he advised the officers that he had been shot in the shoulder. The victim advised that he was shot by his girlfriend, Quineshia Townsel. Upon being located by officers, Townsel admitted to the shooting and stated she hid the firearm in her residence. Investigators executed a search warrant on Townsel’s residence and located a .22-caliber Walther P22 semi-automatic handgun. A database check was conducted on the firearm, and it was reported stolen in October 2018. Townsel has a criminal conviction history of multiple significant felonies, including two convictions for aggravated robbery and one for attempted aggravated robbery – all of which prohibit her possession of a firearm or ammunition under federal law. On August 19, 2026, Townsel pled guilty to being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm. Townsel is set for sentencing before District Judge Mark S. Norris on December 3, 2026, where she faces a possible sentence of up to 10 years in federal prison followed by up to 3 years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system. U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said, “The presence of a firearm during a crime of domestic violence dramatically increases the chances that the victim will be fatally shot. Through our aggressive federal prosecution of prohibited persons, we can incapacitate and hold dangerous offenders accountable, send a strong message of deterrence, reduce violent crime rates, and ultimately save lives.” This case was investigated by the Memphis Police Department (MPD) as part of the Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) initiative and was one of six cases recently referred and accepted for federal prosecution as part of MPD’s Domestic Violence Prolific Offender Initiative. Special Assistant United States Attorney Brandon Wright, of the United States Army Judge Advocate General’s (JAG) Corps, prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. 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, please contact the media relations team at USATNW.Media@usdoj.gov . Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office on Facebook or on X at @WDTNNews for office news and updates.


title: Gibson County Woman Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Child Sex Trafficking

body_text: Jackson, TN – Brittany Gail Weeks, 28 , formerly of Milan, Tennessee, was sentenced to 120 months in prison for transporting a minor in interstate commerce with intent that the minor engage in prostitution. United States Attorney D. Michael Dunavant, of the Western District of Tennessee, announced the sentence today. The investigation in this case revealed that in June 2023, Weeks transported a minor from Gibson County, Tennessee to a motel in or around Osceola, Arkansas, with intent that the minor engage in sexual intercourse with several adult males at the motel. Once at the motel, Weeks instructed the minor to go room-to-room to engage in sexual intercourse with the adult males in the rooms and then collect payment from them. The minor went to around 10 rooms and had sexual intercourse with the males in the rooms, collected money from them, and turned the money over to Weeks. When the minor’s sexual acts with the men at the motel concluded, Weeks drove the minor back to Tennessee. In April 2024, Weeks was charged in a one-count federal indictment with transporting a minor in interstate commerce with intent that the minor engage in prostitution. In February 2026, Weeks entered a guilty plea to the one-count indictment. On August 19, 2026, United States District Judge J. Daniel Breen sentenced Weeks to 120 months’ imprisonment and five years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system. Following her release from prison, Weeks will have to register as a sex offender under the Sex Offender Registration & Notification Act (SORNA). U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said: “Human trafficking of minors for commercial sex purposes is an unconscionable crime that must be met with severe consequences. We commend the FBI and our local partners for their outstanding investigation of these heinous crimes, and we are pleased to achieve justice for the victim in this disturbing case.” "Those who prey upon and exploit children should know this: law enforcement will find you, we will investigate you, and we will hold you accountable," said Special Agent in Charge Terence G. Reilly of the FBI Nashville Field Office. "There is no place in our community for those who profit from the abuse of children. I commend the FBI Memphis Resident Agency and our partners for their diligent work on this case." This case was investigated by members of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Milan Police Department, the Gibson County Sheriff’s Office, and the Tennessee Department of Children’s Services. Assistant United States Attorney Josh Morrow prosecuted this case on behalf of the government. ### For more information, please contact the media relations team at USATNW.Media@usdoj.gov . Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office on Facebook or on X at @WDTNNews for office news and updates.


title: Armed Career Criminal Gangster Pleads Guilty to Illegal Possession of a Firearm

body_text: Memphis, TN – Dock Exum, 50 , of Memphis, pled guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm as an Armed Career Criminal. United States Attorney D. Michael Dunavant, for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the guilty plea today. According to the evidence, on September 30, 2025, Memphis police officers conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle that had visible fraudulent tags. Officers approached the vehicle and identified the sole occupant as Exum. During the stop, officers detected an odor of marijuana and conducted a probable cause search on the vehicle for suspected narcotics. During the search, a Sig Sauer P238 .380 caliber pistol was recovered, and Exum claimed ownership of the firearm. Exum is a long-standing and known member of the Gangster Disciples street gang and has a lengthy criminal history of significant felonies, including especially aggravated robbery, two convictions of burglary of a motor vehicle, burglary of a building, and five convictions of aggravated burglary. Under federal law, due to Exum’s criminal history, he is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition and is subject to the enhanced sentencing penalties under the Armed Career Criminal Act (ACCA). On August 18, 2026, Exum pled guilty to being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm. Exum is scheduled to be sentenced before District Chief Judge Sheryl H. Lipman on November 23, 2026 and faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison. There is no parole in the federal system. U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said: "This case targets and removes a dangerous gangster from the community BEFORE he pulls the trigger. Exum has spent years sowing a culture of criminality in Memphis, and he will now reap a long prison sentence without the sanctuary of parole.” This case was investigated by the Memphis Police Department (MPD) as part of the Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) initiative. Special Assistant United States Attorney Brandon Wright, of the United States Army Judge Advocate General’s (JAG) Corps, prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. 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, please contact the media relations team at USATNW.Media@usdoj.gov . Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office on Facebook or on X at @WDTNNews for office news and updates.


title: Pittsburgh Resident Sentenced to Four Years in Prison for Firearms Violations

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Western

body_text: PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced in federal court to a term of imprisonment of four years on his conviction of being a felon in possession of a firearm and possessing a machinegun, United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today. United States District Judge Marilyn J. Horan imposed the sentence on Andrew Rocco, 22. According to information presented to the Court, Rocco’s residence was searched on February 2, 2024, and police found three firearms, along with magazines and ammunition. One of the firearms was equipped with a mechanism – frequently referred to as a “switch” or auto-sear – that renders it capable of fully automatic firing. That is, one of the firearms was a machinegun. All three pistols were outfitted with loaded, extended magazines. This is not Mr. Rocco’s first conviction for unlawfully possessing firearms. Less than two years prior to the execution of the search warrant in this case, the defendant was arrested in 2022 with a stolen firearm on his person after attempting to flee from police. His conduct in this case violates the probation to which he was sentenced for possessing the stolen firearm. Moreover, a year before his 2022 arrest, the defendant was adjudicated delinquent in another illegal firearm possession case. The instant matter is, therefore, the third time Mr. Rocco has been convicted or adjudicated delinquent for a gun-related crime. Prior to imposing sentence, Judge Horan indicated that the type of weapons involved in this case, as well as the defendant’s repetitive unlawful firearm possession, present a concern for the safety of the public. Assistant United States Attorney Barbara K. Doolittle prosecuted this case on behalf of the government. United States Attorney Rivetti commended the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Andrew Rocco. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.


title: Pittsburgh Felon Sentenced to 46 Months in Prison for Possession of Firearm and Ammunition

body_text: PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced in federal court to 46 months in prison, to be followed by two years of supervised release, on his conviction of possessing a firearm and ammunition as a felon, United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today. United States District Court Judge J. Nicholas Ranjan imposed the sentence on Chaz Mitchell, 36, on August 21, 2026. According to the information presented to the Court, on July 5, 2025, following the issuance of a state arrest warrant for Mitchell on unrelated charges, officers from the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police observed Mitchell in possession of an assault rifle and sawed-off shotgun and attempted to execute the state warrant. Mitchell refused to exit a residence until the SWAT unit arrived. Upon Mitchell’s surrender and being taken into custody, officers obtained and executed a state search warrant for the residence, from where they recovered an assault rifle, sawed-off shotgun, pistol, and ammunition. Mitchell had previously been convicted of felony state firearms offenses. Federal law prohibits possession of a firearm or ammunition by a convicted felon. Assistant United States Attorney V. Joseph Sonson prosecuted this case on behalf of the United States. The Pittsburgh Bureau of Police and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted the investigation that led to the successful prosecution of Mitchell. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.


title: Garvin County Teen Pleads Guilty as an Adult to Murder in Indian Country after Two Killed at Marijuana Grow

component: USAO - Oklahoma, Western

body_text: OKLAHOMA CITY – MATTHEW RAY JONES , of Wynnewood, Oklahoma, has pleaded guilty to a criminal information charging him with murder in the second degree in Indian Country and discharging a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, announced U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester. According to public records, on April 18, 2025, Jones and another individual, Whyitt Collins, broke into a residence located on a marijuana grow outside Wynnewood, Oklahoma. Both men were armed with a handgun. Once inside, Jones and Collins encountered two individuals, whom they shot and killed. Following the shootings, Jones and Collins took several items prior to leaving the residence. Jones, who was a juvenile at the time of the offenses, entered his guilty plea today as an adult and will be sentenced as an adult. As part of his plea, Jones admitted that he unlawfully killed one victim by discharging a firearm and aided and abetted in the unlawful killing of the second victim. At sentencing, Jones faces up to life in federal prison and fines of up to $500,000. This case is in federal court because Jones is a member of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, and the crimes occurred within the boundaries of the Chickasaw Nation. On June 29, 2026, Collins was sentenced to life without parole in Garvin County District Court after pleading guilty to two counts of first-degree murder and one count of first-degree burglary. This case is the result of an investigation by the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Joynes and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney (SAUSA) Angela Ganote prosecuted this case. SAUSA Ganote is an attorney with the Chickasaw Nation assigned to the U.S. Attorney’s Office as part of a partnership to enhance federal efforts to address crime in Indian Country. Reference is made to public filings for additional information.


title: Prior felon going to prison on new child pornography charge

component: USAO - New York, Western

body_text: BUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Nicholas Mangione, 45, of Buffalo, NY, who was convicted of possession of child pornography following a prior conviction, was sentenced to serve 15 years in prison by U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo. In April 2013, Mangione was convicted of possession of child pornography and sentenced to serve 48 months in prison. On August 15, 2024, a federal search warrant was executed at Mangione’s residence after it was discovered he uploaded a file containing child pornography to the Snapchat server. During the search, Mangione’s cellular telephone was seized. An examination of the device uncovered approximately 20 images and 52 videos of child pornography. It was also determined that Mangione distributed child pornography to other individuals using the Telegram application in exchange for other child pornographic files. On August 16, 2024, the defendant was arrested on New York State charges and was found to be in possession of an additional cell phone, which also contained images and videos of child pornography. Some of the child pornography possessed by Mangione depicted the sexual exploitation of an infant or toddler and depictions of violence against children. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron J. Mango. The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Allen D. Davis, II, and the New York State Police, under the direction of Major Amie Feroleto. # # # #


title: Pittsford woman pleads guilty to her role in stolen cooking oil scheme

body_text: ROCHESTER, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Fangfang Yan, 41, of Shanxi, China, and Pittsford, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Frank P. Geraci, Jr to misprision of a felony, which carries a maximum penalty of three years in prison, and a fine of $250,000. On April 8, 2022, Guodeng Chen and Didi Huang caused 45,000 pounds of stolen, used cooking oil to be shipped from the Western District of New York to a refinery located in Erie, Pennsylvania. Chen and Huang received $29,433.60 for this shipment. On April 28, 2022, Chen and Huang caused another 45,000 pounds of stolen used cooking oil to be shipped from the Western District of New York to a refinery located in Erie, Pennsylvania. Chen and Huang received $30,618.00 for this shipment. Fangfang Yan was aware that Chen and Huang were transporting the stolen cooking oil but failed to notify federal authorities. On May 6, 2022, when interviewed by law enforcement officers and asked about Chen and Huang’s illegal activity, Yan refused to answer the officer’s questions in order to conceal Chen and Huang’s crimes. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan K. McGuire. The plea is the result of an investigation by the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff Todd Baxter, Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Acting Special Agent-in-Charge Anthony Patrone, the New York State Police, under the direction of Major Kevin Sucher, and the U.S. Department of Transportation, Office of Inspector General, under the direction of Anthony Licari, Special Agent-In-Charge, Midwestern Region. Sentencing is scheduled for December 1, 2026, before Judge Geraci.


title: Pittsford man pleads guilty to his role in credit card scam

body_text: ROCHESTER, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Talib Hussain, 75, of Pittsford, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Meredith A. Vacca to misprision of a felony, which carries a maximum penalty of three years in prison, and a fine of $250,000. Between 2012 and July 23, 2024, Hussain’s son, Mirza Khan, and others engaged in a scheme to obtain social security numbers of victims and then use them, along with fictitious names, to apply for and obtain credit cards from various financial institutions, including Citibank, Discover Bank, First National Bank of Omaha, and TD Bank. The financial institutions were directed to mail ed the fraudulently obtained credit cards to one of many addresses that Khan and his co-conspirators leased in and around Rochester, NY. They would then use the fraudulently obtained credit cards to make purchases or pay property taxes. Talib Hussain owned a property on S. Plymouth Avenue and was legally responsible for paying the taxes associated with that property. However, between 2021 and 2022, Mirza Khan used fraudulently obtained credit cards and his father’s email address to pay the taxes on the property. Talib Hussain knew that his son was engaged in the illegal scheme. He received tax payment receipts, which showed that the taxes were paid using credit cards that were not in Hussain’s or Khan’s names. Despite this, Hussain failed to notify the relevant federal authorities about the commission of the offense. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan K. McGuire. The plea is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Allen D. Davis, II, the IRS Criminal Investigation New York, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Harry T. Chavis, Jr., the U.S. Postal Inspection Service Boston Division, under the direction of Acting Inspector-in-Charge Justin Page, and the Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Michael McGill, New York Field Division. Sentencing will be scheduled at a later date. # # # #


title: Citizen of India, arrested for his role in multi-million-dollar scheme defrauding the elderly, taken into custody

body_text: BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Jay Sunilbharthi Goswami, 21, of Gujarat, India, and Jersey City, NJ, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with wire fraud, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, money laundering, and conspiracy to commit money laundering. The charges carry a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. According to the criminal complaint, in January 2026, the IRS Criminal Investigation Division became aware of an internet and telephone-based fraud scheme that targeted elderly victims in the Western District of New York and other areas around the country. Those responsible for the scheme (perpetrators) fraudulently represented to victims, online and in phone calls, that their bank accounts, funds, and/or personally identifiable information (PII) were threatened or compromised in some manner. Elderly victims were convinced to liquidate their assets in the form of cash, gold, and/or gift cards. The perpetrators would then pose as either members of law enforcement or other pertinent figures to further their scheme to defraud elderly individuals. When the scheme involved either cash or gold, the perpetrators arranged for “money mules” to pick up the cash or gold from the victims and then deliver it to another member of the conspiracy. Defendant Goswami, who is from Gujarat, India but living in Jersey City, New Jersey, was a money mule. On at least nine occasions, he either personally collected or conspired to collect cash and gold from elderly victims in New York and New Jersey. The victims ranged in age from 59-years-old to 87-years-old. In total, the nine victims lost approximately $7,559,185.00. The criminal complaint further states that Goswami opened an account at Bank of America. Between August 1, 2025, and April 6, 2026, he made deposits of more than $90,000 in cash. Investigators believe the deposits are consistent with Goswami receiving compensation for acting as a money mule in the fraudulent scheme. Goswami made an initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark W. Pedersen on August 17, 2026, and was released on conditions. On August 18, 2026, at approximately 10:25 a.m., he fled the United Stats by crossing into Canada at the Peace Bridge. Law enforcement subsequently learned that Goswami was booked on a flight to Doha, Qatar out of Toronto, Ontario, later that evening. The United States Probation Office submitted a Violation Report of Defendant Under Pretrial Supervision to the Court, which issued an Order and Warrant of Arrest. At approximately 7:13 p.m., Canadian law enforcement officials took Goswami into custody, pursuant to Canadian immigration violations, at the Toronto Pearson International Airport. On August 20, Canadian authorities arrested Goswami pursuant to the request for provisional arrest for extradition to the United States. The fraud case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan K. McGuire. The criminal complaint is the result of an investigation by the IRS Criminal Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Harry T. Chavis, Jr., New York Field Division. Additional assistance was provided by the New York State Police, the New Jersey State Police and New Jersey Office of Homeland Security Investigations. Goswami’s re-arrest is the result of the efforts of the U.S. Marshals Service, under the direction of Marshal Charles Salina, the IRS-CI, Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Acting Special Agent-in-Charge Anthony Patrone, U.S. Border Patrol, Buffalo Sector, under the direction of Acting Chief Patrol Agent James D’Amato, the U.S Probation Office, under the direction of Chief Probation Officer Clifford Jackson, and Canadian law enforcement. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs is providing valuable assistance with securing the extradition from Canada of Goswami to the United States. The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. # # # #


title: Buffalo man sentenced for defrauding hundreds of victims out of hundreds of thousands of dollars

body_text: BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Nicholas Janes, 40, of Tonawanda, NY, who was convicted of mail fraud, was sentenced to serve five years’ probation by U.S. District Judge John L. Sinatra, Jr. In May 2023, law enforcement learned of many suspicious United States Postal Service Express Mail overnight flat-rate envelopes being mailed to the defendant’s address in Buffalo. The envelopes were addressed to variations of Janes’s name, or what appeared to be different law offices. Most of the address labels were hand-written, and the envelopes were mailed by individuals residing throughout the United States. A search of Janes’s address in various consumer complaint databases revealed a pattern of alleged debt collection fraud victims from throughout the United States. The names “Nicholas Janes,” “Nicholas James,” “The Nichols Law Group,” “The Nicholas Law Group,” and variations of the business name, The Offices of Pachulski, Mueller and Barnes (Muler, Muller, Burns, etc.) were consistently associated with Janes’s address. The defendant also controlled business mailboxes in Ann Arbor, Michigan, where he received mail as a result of the fraudulent scheme. That mail was then forwarded to his residence in Buffalo. As part of his fraudulent scheme, Janes contacted various individuals from around the country by telephone, advising them that they had a debt due on an alleged unpaid loan. He claimed that he was a local sheriff’s deputy, and would threaten the victims with criminal charges, if they did not immediately repay the alleged debt owed. Janes also pretended to be an attorney at fictitious law firms, so victims thought they were negotiating with a legitimate entity. He advised victims to make payment by USPS money orders payable to him, and send them via USPS, Federal Express or United Parcel Service overnight service to various addresses that he controlled and monitored the mail. In total, Janes victimized more than 500 people for $420,812.92. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Franz M. Wright. The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, under the direction of Acting Special Agent-in-Charge Justin Page, Boston Division. # # # #


title: Traverse City Man Indicted for Impersonating Federal Officer and Violating the Clean Water Act

component: USAO - Michigan, Western

body_text: MARQUETTE, MICHIGAN – U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan Timothy VerHey announced that Brent Alan Tompkins, 52, Traverse City, was indicted on criminal charges alleging that he impersonated a federal officer, unlawfully used Coast Guard insignia, and discharged sewage into Lake Michigan. The indictment follows a two-year investigation by the Coast Guard Investigative Service (CGIS) and Michigan Department of Natural Resources Environmental Investigations Section (EIS) for the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) into allegations that Tompkins discharged pollutants into Lake Michigan, at White Shoal Light. Investigators also identified allegations that Tompkins operated a vessel with insignia resembling U.S. Coast Guard insignia and represented himself as a Coast Guard member to a distressed mariner in Emmet County. U.S. Attorney VerHey said, “Reports that Tomkins was polluting Lake Michigan got our attention right away because protecting this national resource is a high priority for my office. I appreciate the investigative work that CGIS and EGLE did in this case to make it possible to bring charges. The charges relating to impersonating a Coast Guard officer point to another troubling issue encountered in this case. The public has a right to know when they are dealing with a properly trained public official--and when they are not--especially during a potentially dangerous situation on the water. This is no place for impersonators and wannabes.” “Protecting the public’s trust in the U.S. Coast Guard and safeguarding our nation’s waterways is critical,” said Assistant Director Joshua Packer of the Coast Guard Investigative Service, LANT Operations. “Impersonating Coast Guard personnel and misusing Coast Guard markings can create serious safety and security risks on the water. CGIS will continue working with our federal, state, and local partners to investigate conduct that threatens public confidence, maritime safety, and the marine environment.” Tompkins is charged with false impersonation of a federal officer, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 912; unauthorized use of a Coast Guard insignia, in violation of 14 U.S.C. § 933; and discharge of a pollutant into a navigable waterway, in violation of 33 U.S.C. §§ 1311(a), 1319(c)(2)(A). The case was investigated by CGIS and EGLE. The case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Michigan. If convicted, Tompkins faces up to 3 years in prison and a fine of at least $5,000 per day that he violated the Clean Water Act. The charges in an indictment are merely accusations, and a defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.


title: Bossier Police Responding to Concerned Neighbors’ Complaints Recover Firearms in Drug Trafficking Operation; Two Men Sentenced to Federal Prison

body_text: SHREVEPORT - On August 20, 2026, United States District Judge S. Maurice Hicks sentenced Melvin Lee Johnson , 23, of Bossier City, to over nine years in federal prison, plus three years supervised release, for Possession of Firearms by a Convicted Felon and Possession of Firearms During a Drug Trafficking Offense. Johnson previously pled guilty on April 28, 2026. The same day, Judge Hicks also sentenced Johnson’s associate, Jarrod De'Angelo Stith, 23, of Shreveport, to over five years in federal prison for Possession with Intent to Distribute Marijuana and Possession of Firearms During a Drug Trafficking Offense related to the same incident. Stith had also pled guilty. “Members of our community did exactly what they should to protect their families and neighborhood—they stayed alert and worked together to report suspicious activity,” said United States Attorney Zachary A. Keller. “Their sense of responsibility and willingness to get involved helped law enforcement disrupt a dangerous situation and recover illegal drugs and firearms before someone was hurt or killed.” According to court documents, on May 21, 2025, Bossier City Police Department (BCPD) officers went to a Bossier residence after neighbors complained about loud music, drug use, and disorderly conduct. When officers got there, they saw several people gathered near a black Nissan SUV. Johnson was sitting on the hood of the SUV near a backpack. Stith then threw the backpack over a fence. Officers recovered the backpack and found twenty-seven small baggies of marijuana that amounted to about 400 grams. They also found a scale, empty baggies used for packaging drugs, and a loaded Micro Draco pistol. Officers also recovered another stolen firearm during a pat down of Stith. U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Keller for the Western District of Louisiana made the announcement. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and BCPD investigated the case. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys J. Aaron Crawford and Allison C. Foster with the assistance of Legal Assistant Amanda Morgan. This case was part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the Department of Justice’s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys’ offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump’s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities . You may find a copy of this press release (and any updates) at www.justice.gov/usao-wdla . Related court documents and information may be found at www.lawd.uscourts.gov or https://www.lawd.uscourts.gov/cmecf-pacer under Case Number 5:25-cr-00248-01. ### CONTACT: Public Affairs: USALAW-News@usdoj.gov United States Attorney’s Office: www.justice.gov/usao-wdla X: @USAO_WDLA Facebook: USAO_WDLA Cara Alexander: (337) 262-6704


title: Bald Eagle Killer Sent to Prison

component: USAO - Texas, Southern

body_text: HOUSTON – A 43-year-old Porter resident has been sentenced to prison for shooting and killing a bald eagle. Santos Guerrero pleaded guilty May 14. U.S. Magistrate Judge Peter Bray has now ordered Guerrero to serve 14 days in federal prison and pay a $5,000 fine. At the hearing, the court heard additional evidence that Guerrero shot the eagle in his backyard Oct. 11, 2024, hid it in his garage, and later lied to authorities. The court also reviewed images from video and body camera footage documenting the eagle prior to the shooting and subsequent discovery of the eagle. Authorities responded to reports of the shooting and reviewed video showing the eagle being shot and falling from the tree. They arrived at Guerrero’s residence and identified the tree shown in the video. Law enforcement located the injured eagle hidden under a tarp in Guerrero’s garage and transported it to an animal hospital. Veterinarians later euthanized the eagle because of the severity of its injuries. A necropsy determined the bullet significantly damaged the eagle’s wing. The fall also caused liver fractures, internal bleeding, and a fractured leg. Although bald eagles are no longer listed as endangered, federal law continues to protect them under the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act. The law prohibits anyone from killing, possessing, selling, transporting, exporting, or importing any bald or golden eagle, alive or dead, including any part, nest, or egg, without authorization. Guerrero was permitted to remain on bond and voluntarily surrender to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future. Fish and Wildlife Service conducted the investigation with the assistance of Texas Parks and Wildlife. Assistant U.S. Attorney Liesel Roscher is prosecuted the case.


title: Another week of hundreds of cases filed in Southern District border-security efforts

body_text: HOUSTON – The Southern District of Texas has charged another 230 individuals for immigration and border security-related matters from Aug. 14-20. A total of 161 criminal complaints were filed for felony reentry after prior removal, while another 34 people face charges of illegal entry. Most of those charged with illegal entry have prior felony convictions for offenses such as narcotics, violent crime, and immigration crimes, among others. In addition, authorities charged 27 individuals with human smuggling, including 15 who are themselves illegal aliens. The remaining case charged this week relate to other immigration crimes. Those charged with felony reentry include a Dominican national with prior convictions involving violent crime, drugs, and a machine gun. Law enforcement discovered Wandy Emilio Castillo-Arias near Roma with no authorization to be in the United States. Authorities also found Mexican national Luis Armando Arroyo-Garcia in the same area. He allegedly has a prior conviction for sale or distribution of a controlled substance. If convicted of felony reentry after removal, both face up to 20 years in prison. The cases are referred or supported by federal law enforcement partners, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations, ICE - Enforcement and Removal Operations, Border Patrol, Drug Enforcement Administration, FBI, U.S. Marshals Service, as well as the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives with additional assistance from state and local law enforcement partners. The cases are part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigrants, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Under current leadership, public safety and a secure border are the top priorities for the Southern District. Enhanced enforcement both at the border and in the interior of the district have yielded aliens engaged in unlawful activity or with serious criminal histories, including convictions for human trafficking, sexual assault, and violence against children. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas remains one of the busiest in the nation. It represents 43 counties and more than 10 million people covering 44,000 square miles. Assistant U.S. Attorneys from all seven divisions including Houston, Galveston, Victoria, Corpus Christi, Brownsville, McAllen, and Laredo work directly with our law enforcement partners on the federal, state, and local levels to prosecute the suspected offenders of these and other federal crimes. An indictment or criminal complaint is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.


title: Cincinnati man admits to sexually exploiting teenager, 7-year-old

component: USAO - Ohio, Southern

body_text: CINCINNATI – Kyle Rist, 39, of Cincinnati, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court today to two child exploitation crimes involving online conduct with a teenager and in-person conduct with a 7-year-old. Rist admitted to coercion and enticement and sexual exploitation of children and faces 15 to 30 years in prison. According to court documents, in September 2023, the grandparents of a teenaged victim alerted law enforcement in Oregon that their granddaughter had been sending and receiving sexually explicit videos of herself and of Rist through Facebook and SnapChat. Rist referred to himself as daddy to the victim and told the victim they were in a relationship. Rist – pretending to be another man by the name of Jeremy Hadley – had ongoing online discussions with the same teenage victim. Between August and November 2024, Rist sexually exploited a 7-year-old child by creating videos and images of the victim engaging in and assisting another person in sexually explicit conduct. Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, and Jason Cromartie, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division, announced the guilty plea entered today before U.S. District Judge Douglas R. Cole. Assistant United States Attorney Danielle E. Margeaux and Kyle J. Healey are representing the United States in this case. This case is part of Project Safe Childhood , a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. # # #


title: West Virginia Man Found Guilty of Coercion and Enticement of Minor and Interstate Travel to Engage in Sexual Conduct

component: Department of Justice

body_text: Jackson, MS – A West Virginia man was found guilty on two federal charges at the conclusion of a three-day jury trial that concluded on August 20, 2026, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi, announced U.S. Attorney Baxter Kruger and Matthew Reidell, Assistant Special Agent in Charge of HSI Gulfport. According to court documents and statements made in court, Joshua Timothy Radcliffe, 43, of Charleston, West Virginia, used the internet and a cellular phone to coerce and entice a minor child in Mississippi to engage in sexual activity. Testimony during the trial established that Radcliffe traveled from West Virginia to Mississippi to meet the 15-year-old minor. Testimony and evidence further established that Radcliffe sent thousands of sexually explicit messages and coerced the minor to engage in sexual activity. In November 2025, a federal grand jury indicted Radcliffe for Coercion and Enticement of a Minor and Interstate Travel with Intent to Engage in Sexually Explicit Conduct. Radcliffe’s sentencing is scheduled for December 18, 2026. He faces a minimum penalty of not less than 10 years, and a maximum penalty up to life and is currently being held in federal custody. “Protecting children from predators is one of the highest priorities of the Department of Justice. The United States Attorney’s Office will continue to aggressively pursue and prosecute those who abuse our children and seek the toughest penalties authorized by law,” said United States Attorney Baxter Kruger. “Individuals who hold positions of public trust are expected to protect the vulnerable, not exploit them,” said Matthew Reidell, Assistant Special Agent in Charge of HSI Gulfport. “This verdict underscores HSI’s unwavering commitment to investigating those who use positions of influence, technology, or access to target children, and to working with our partners to ensure they are held accountable.” The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the Madison Police Department, and the Mississippi Attorney General’s Office Cyber Crime Division. West Virginia law enforcement also assisted with the investigation. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Glenda Haynes and Kimberly Purdie, and former Assistant United States Attorney Samuel Goff. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.


title: Multiple defendants sentenced after pleading guilty to firearms-related charges

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

body_text: SAVANNAH, Georgia: Four men have been sentenced to federal prison after pleading guilty to various firearms charges in separate cases. The sentences were imposed in U.S. District Court and announced by Margaret E. “Meg” Heap, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. They include: Ryan Lee Borders , 38, of Baxley, Georgia, was sentenced to 130 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Borders was found in possession of a Beretta 9 mm pistol during a traffic stop by Georgia State Patrol in May 2024. Antonio Lamar King , 41, of Dublin, Georgia, was sentenced to 56 months in prison and a $1,500 fine followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. In May 2025, King was found in possession of a Smith and Wesson, Model SD40VE, .40 caliber pistol during an encounter with the Dublin Police Department. Charles K. Carceller , 63, of Jackson, Georgia, was sentenced to 42 months in prison and a $1,500 fine followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to Possession of an Unregistered Firearm. Carceller was in possession of multiple firearms and accessories, including a silencer, that were not registered with the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record in July 2022 in Chatham County. Yusef Rashad Butler , 32, of Port Wentworth, was sentenced to 30 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Butler was found in possession of a HS Produkt Hellcat, 9 mm pistol in August 2025 during a traffic stop GSP in Chatham County. There is no parole in the federal system. Under federal law, it is prohibited for previously convicted felons to possess firearms or ammunition. “These defendants demonstrated a blatant disregard for federal law in possessing these firearms,” said U.S. Attorney Heap. “With our law enforcement partners, we will continue our work to hold accountable those who illegally possess guns and threaten the safety of our communities.” “Each of these sentences reflects our dedication to reducing gun violence and enhancing public safety,” said ATF Assistant Special Agent in Charge Brian Graves. “The collaboration between the ATF and local law enforcement agencies is vital in our fight against illegal firearms possession, and we will not waver in our efforts to protect our communities from those who choose to ignore the law.” The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Georgia State Patrol, Dublin Police Department, Savannah Police Department and local law enforcement agencies assisted in the investigation of these cases. These cases were prosecuted for the United States by Southern District of Georgia Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kelsey L. Scanlon, Joshua Kyle Davis, Henry W. Syms Jr., Tara M. Lyons, Makeia R. Jonese and Jennifer J. Kirkland.


title: Jacksonville Man Sentenced to Prison for Tax and Fraud Crimes

component: USAO - Oregon

body_text: MEDFORD, Ore.—A Jacksonville, Oregon, man was sentenced today for tax evasion, employment tax crimes, bank fraud, wire fraud, and aggravated identity theft. Joel Matthew Caswell, 32, was sentenced to 42 months in federal prison and 5 years’ supervised release. He was also ordered to pay $1,198,799.83 in restitution to the IRS. According to documents and statements made in court, Caswell owned and operated three logging and construction businesses that employed approximately 40 employees. From 2018 through 2022, Caswell withheld employment taxes from his employees’ pay and willfully failed to pay over these taxes to the IRS. Caswell attempted to evade these and other taxes by directing customers to write checks to another company or to him personally, moving business funds and lying to IRS collection officers. Separately, between 2022 and 2024, Caswell executed multiple fraud schemes that involved submitting fabricated financial records to a bank, a private lender, and the Small Business Administration to secure loans. For example, Caswell submitted fraudulent PPP and EIDL applications for these three logging and construction businesses. He transferred $70,000 of the proceeds from his scheme to be used as a deposit for an ultimate frisbee tournament. Caswell also used the personal identifying information of another person to obtain a residential mortgage. On June 9, 2026, Caswell pleaded guilty to three counts of tax evasion, three counts of willful failure to pay over employment taxes, one count of bank fraud, one count of wire fraud, and one count of aggravated identity theft. Assistant Attorney General Colin McDonald of the Justice Department’s National Fraud Enforcement Division and U.S. Attorney Scott E. Bradford for the District of Oregon made the announcement. This case was investigated by IRS Criminal Investigation, the FBI and the Interior Department’s Bureau of Land Management. Assistant U.S. Attorney John C. Brassell of the District of Oregon and Trial Attorney J. Parker Gochenour of the Criminal Division’s Tax Section are prosecuting the case. On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division. The core mission of the Fraud Division is to zealously investigate and prosecute those who steal or fraudulently misuse taxpayer dollars. Department of Justice efforts to combat fraud support President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.


title: Venezuelan Man Sentenced to 8 Years in Prison for ATM Jackpotting Following Homeland Security Task Force Initiative

body_text: United States Attorney Lesley A. Woods announced that Juan Manuel Gouveia-Aguilera, 27, originally of Venezuela, was sentenced on August 20, 2026, in federal court in Omaha, Nebraska, for his role in a conspiracy to deploy malware and steal millions of dollars from ATMs in the United States, a crime commonly referred to as “ATM jackpotting.” Chief United States District Court Judge Brian C. Buescher sentenced Gouveia-Aguilera to 96 months’ imprisonment, a 5-year term of supervised release, and $500 in special assessments. Gouveia-Aguilera was also ordered to pay restitution as part of his sentence. The Court found Gouveia-Aguilera to be responsible for more than $3.5 million in losses and this sentence is believed to be the longest federal sentence imposed for an individual’s role in ATM jackpotting. Specifically, Gouveia-Aguilera was convicted of conspiracy to commit bank fraud, conspiracy to commit bank burglary and fraud in connection with computers, bank fraud, bank burglary, and fraud in connection with computers following a guilty plea. “The Court’s sentence of Juan Manuel Gouveia-Aguilera reflects the severity of his criminal conduct,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “He participated in a scheme to hack ATMs across the United States, the result of which forced them to dispense substantial amounts of cash – known as jackpotting. These malware schemes help fund the operations of violent transnational criminal organizations, such as Tren de Aragua (TdA). We will continue to safeguard the security of our financial institutions and disrupt this network with our law enforcement partners and the District of Nebraska.” “Today’s sentence is one of many yet to come in this case, and the United States Attorney’s Office looks forward to the day when the leaders and architects of this nationwide conspiracy to victimize American banks to fill the coffers of a terrorist organization are held accountable in federal court,” said U.S. Attorney Lesley A. Woods. “This appropriate and just sentence is only the beginning of the justice that will be doled out across the entire conspiracy before this case concludes.” “TdA poses a direct threat to our communities both here in the Midwest and across our country. This violent terrorist organization relies on a wide range of criminal activities to generate revenue supporting their campaigns of violence and terror,” said FBI Omaha Special Agent in Charge Eugene Kowel. “This case highlights TdA’s plot to deploy sophisticated malware targeting financial institutions across the U.S., syphoning millions of dollars from American banks to fund acts of terrorism. As criminal enterprises change tactics, we surge resources and adapt accordingly to protect the American people.” “Gouveia-Aguilera and his alleged co-conspirators thought they could hack American ATMs, drain financial institutions, and funnel money to a violent transnational criminal organization without consequence. They were wrong,” said HSI Kansas City Special Agent in Charge Rick Sabatini. “This 8-year sentence is a warning to every criminal network targeting our financial systems: HSI and our partners will hunt you down, dismantle your operations, and put you in federal prison.” The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Nebraska in conjunction with the Department of Justice’s Cyber Crimes and Intellectual Property Section (CCIPS) and Joint Task Force Vulcan is investigating and prosecuting a widespread ATM Jackpotting conspiracy that has been tied to designated foreign terrorist organization Tren de Aragua (TdA). To date, 119 defendants have been charged in the District of Nebraska for their role in this conspiracy. Gouveia-Aguilera is the third defendant to be sentenced in the District of Nebraska for crimes in connection with this conspiracy. Two prior defendants were sentenced by United States District Court Judge Susan M. Bazis in Lincoln, Nebraska, in June: Defendant Sentence Oddry Arnoldo Cabrera Torrealba 78 months’ imprisonment Carlos Javier Padron 78 months’ imprisonment The investigation has established extensive direct and indirect links between the indicted co-conspirators and TdA. According to court documents, TdA is a violent transnational criminal organization that originated as a prison gang in Venezuela in the mid-2000s. TdA has expanded its criminal network throughout the Western Hemisphere and established a presence in the United States. TdA’s criminal activities range from drug trafficking and firearms trafficking to commercial sex trafficking, kidnapping, robbery, theft, fraud, and extortion. TdA members also commit murder, assault, and other violent acts to advance the organization’s criminal activities. TdA has also developed an additional source of revenue stream through financial crimes that target financial institutions throughout the United States, including using ATM jackpotting to steal millions of dollars in cash. The investigation has revealed that the conspiracy has targeted or carried out ATM jackpotting attacks in 47 states, the District of Columbia, and several foreign nations. FBI’s Omaha Field Office and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Omaha are investigating the case, with assistance from FBI’s Denver, Houston, Miami, New Orleans, Oklahoma, Sacramento, Seattle, and Springfield Field Offices, and the United States Secret Service, U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Border Patrol, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, Federal Housing Finance Agency Office of the Inspector General, Financial Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Texas Financial Crimes Intelligence Center, and a significant number of local law enforcement entities across the country. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs, the U.S. Attorney’s Offices for the District of Kansas, Western District of Washington, Eastern District of California, Southern District of New York, Northern District of Illinois, Central District of Illinois, Eastern District of Oklahoma, Northern District of Oklahoma, Southern District of Mississippi, Southern District of Texas, Eastern District of Missouri, Western District of Missouri, Middle District of Louisiana, Middle District of Georgia, Middle District of Wisconsin, and Eastern District of Wisconsin, as well as the Larimer County Attorney’s Office, Colorado Attorney General’s Office, Tennessee 9th District Attorney General’s Office, Tennessee 5th District Attorney General’s Office, and the Oklahoma Attorney General’s Office have provided significant assistance. This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Omaha comprises agents and officers from HSI, FBI, DEA, ATF, U.S. Marshals Service, USPIS, and the IRS-Criminal Investigation Division. Joint Task Force Vulcan (JTFV) was created in 2019 to eradicate MS-13 and has now expanded to target TdA. JTFV is comprised of U.S. Attorney’s Offices across the country, including Southern and Eastern Districts of New York; Eastern and Western Districts of North Carolina; Eastern and Western Districts of Virginia; Southern District of Florida; Eastern District of Texas; Western District of Oklahoma; Northern District of Indiana; and the District of Nevada, as well as the Executive Office for U.S. Attorneys, and the Department of Justice’s National Security Division and Criminal Division. Additionally, the FBI, Drug Enforcement Administration, HSI, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), USMS, and the Bureau of Prisons are essential law enforcement partners with JTFV. CCIPS investigates and prosecutes cybercrime and intellectual property (IP) crime in coordination with domestic and international law enforcement agencies, often with assistance from the private sector. Since 2020, CCIPS has secured the conviction of over 180 cyber and IP criminals, and court orders for the return of over $350 million in victim funds. ###