title: 45-Year-Old Canóvanas Man Arrested for Child Exploitation

component: USAO - Puerto Rico

body_text: SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – On August 25, 2026, special agents with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested David Ortiz-García, a 45-year-old male from Canóvanas, Puerto Rico, on criminal charges for child exploitation, announced Héctor Ramírez-Carbó, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico. On August 20, 2026, a federal grand jury indicted Ortiz-García on six charges of production, receipt, transportation, and possession of child exploitation material. According to court documents, from in or about November 2025, to July 2026, defendant Ortiz-García possessed and knowingly accessed with intent to view child pornography. Ortiz-García, using his cellular telephone and other electronic devices, which had internet capabilities, possessed images and videos of child pornography including images of toddlers, prepubescent minors or minors who had not attained 12 years of age. From or about January 9, 2026, to on or about January 12, 2026, Ortiz-García knowingly induced, enticed, and coerced a minor, or attempted to do so, that is a 3-year-old male minor, to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing child pornography. The defendant is also charged with two more counts of production of child pornography in February and April 2026, for enticing and coercing a prepubescent male minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct to produce child pornography. Ortiz-García is also facing one count of receipt and one count of transportation of child pornography. “Those who prey on children will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Héctor Ramírez-Carbó of the District of Puerto Rico. “I thank the dedicated HSI agents and prosecutors who investigated and charged this case for their tireless efforts to protect the most vulnerable in our community.” “Behind every child exploitation case is a child who has been harmed, and this arrest is another urgent reminder that predators do not fit one profile, and victims do not fit one gender,” said HSI San Juan Acting Special Agent in Charge Yariel Ramos. “HSI San Juan has seen a troubling pattern of adult males seeking to exploit male minors, and we will continue to call attention to that reality without minimizing the risk to any child. Our message is clear: child exploitation is not limited by stereotypes, and neither is our enforcement response. HSI San Juan will follow the evidence, identify victims, and pursue those accused of targeting children with the full weight of our investigative authorities.” Assistant U.S. Daynelle Álvarez-Lora from the Child Exploitation and Immigration Unit, is prosecuting the case. The Puerto Rico Crimes Against Children Task Force led by HSI is in charge of the investigation. If convicted for the charges the defendant faces the following penalties: (1) production of child pornography – minimum sentence of 15 years and a maximum of 30 years in prison; (2) receipt of child exploitation material – five to 20 years in prison; (2) transportation of child exploitation material – five to 20 years in prison; and (3) possession of child pornography – a maximum of 20 years of imprisonment. All charges of conviction are to be followed by a term of supervised release after the term of imprisonment. A federal district court judge will determine the sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. For more information about HSI’s efforts to protect children from sexual predators, visit Know2Protect.gov . To report suspicious activities, call 787-729-6969 or send an email to IntelHSISanJuan@hsi.dhs.gov . This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc. An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. ###


title: Washington State Man Pleads Guilty to Sex Trafficking of Minors

component: USAO - Oregon

body_text: PORTLAND, Ore.—A Washington State man pleaded guilty today to sex trafficking. Dajohntae Rayshawnlee Richard, 26, pleaded guilty to two counts of sex trafficking by fraud, force, and coercion, announced U.S. Attorney Scott E. Bradford for the District of Oregon. According to court documents, in May of 2025, Richard messaged a girl, age 15, on Facebook. Richard met with and had sex with the minor victim. Richard then drove her to a place in the State of Washington where he instructed her to solicit men seeking sex for money. Richard kept all the money that men paid for the sex acts with the minor victim. The victim reported that there were occasions when Richard hit and choked the minor victim if she did not do as Richard instructed. The victim was afraid that Richard would injure or kill her. On one occasion, he struck her in the face and choked her, causing a visible injury. This trafficking and abuse continued for about two months, and Richard transported her to various locations in Washington and Oregon to find customers. In June of 2025, in the Seattle, Washington, area, Richard approached a second 15-year-old girl and told her she worked for him. Within days, Richard began threatening the child, controlling her use of her cellphone and forcing her to engage in sex with men for money, which Richard kept. The child victim feared for her life, so she complied with Richard’s demands. Richard drove the child victim to various locations to make money for him. This trafficking continued for about a month. On June 28, 2025, the defendant transported both these minor victims and an adult woman to Portland, Oregon. Richard rented a hotel room and instructed the girls and woman to walk on 82nd Avenue for the purpose of finding customers with whom to engage in sexual acts. On August 25, 2025, Richard made his initial appearance in federal court in Portland and was detained. On August 12, 2025, a federal grand jury in Portland returned a 4-count indictment charging Richard with 2-counts of sex trafficking by fraud, force, and coercion and 2-counts of sex trafficking of a child. Richard faces a maximum sentence of life imprisonment with a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years’ imprisonment, a fine of $ 250,000 or twice the gross pecuniary gains or losses resulting from the offense if such amount is determined to exceed $250,000, 5 years of supervised release, and a $100 fee assessment. Richard will also be required to register as a sex offender. He will be sentenced on December 7, 2026, before a U.S. district court judge. As part of the plea agreement, Richard has agreed to pay restitution in full to the victims. This case was investigated by the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kate Rochat and Eliza Carmen Rodriguez are prosecuting the case. If you or someone you know are victims of human trafficking or have information about a potential human trafficking situation, please call the National Human Trafficking Resource Center (NHTRC) at 1-888-373-7888 or text 233733. NHTRC is a national, toll-free hotline, with specialists available to answer calls from anywhere in the country, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You can also submit a tip on the NHTRC website . This case was brought in collaboration with Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc . Anyone who has information about the physical or online exploitation of children are encouraged to call the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324) or submit a tip online at tips.fbi.gov .


title: Three Individuals Indicted for Illegal Acquisition of Firearms and Unauthorized Entry Into a Secure Federal Facility With a Firearm in North Las Vegas

component: USAO - Nevada

body_text: LAS VEGAS – Two men and one woman have been indicted in connection with illegal acquisition of firearms and unlawful entry with a concealed weapon into the secure U.S. Department of Energy Nevada National Security Sites North Las Vegas Facility. “This indictment sends a clear message: we will not tolerate actions that threaten public safety or compromise the security of our nation's protected facilities,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada. “The Department of Justice will continue to work tirelessly with our law enforcement partners to investigate and prosecute anyone who attempts to bypass federal gun laws and violate secure spaces." “The FBI will not tolerate acts that jeopardize public safety or the security of our nation's protected institutions,” said Special Agent in Charge Christopher S. Delzotto for the FBI Las Vegas Field Office. “We will continue working diligently with our law enforcement partners to investigate any individual who attempts to breach secure areas or circumvent federal firearms restrictions.” According to allegations contained in the indictment, in February 2026, Demandre Michael Frazier and Jessica Marie Zamora made false statements on ATF Firearms Transaction Record forms during the purchase of two pistols, one a 9x19mm Smith & Wesson and the other a .40 caliber Smith & Wesson. Later, in April 2026, Jessica Zamora and a yet-to-be publicly unidentified defendant made false statements on ATF Firearms Transaction Record forms during the purchase of a 10mm Smith & Wesson pistol. Photo of a Smith & Wesson model SD-9 2.0 9x19mm semiautomatic pistol in U.S. v. Treyvon Jameel Currie et al, Case #2:26-cr-00182-APG-EJY As alleged, on August 5, 2026, Treyvon Jameel Currie and Jessica Marie Zamora, carrying a concealed weapon, entered and attempted to enter the U.S. Department of Energy Nevada National Security Sites North Las Vegas Facility. There are notices stating the pertinent prohibitions and penalties posted at all entrances of the facility. Treyvon Jameel Currie and Jessica Marie Zamora are each charged with one count of entry or attempted entry by fraud and false pretenses on real property of the United States with intent to commit a felony in that facility; one count of possession of a firearm in a secure federal facility; one count of unauthorized entry upon a facility, installation or real property of the United States Department of Energy Enclosed by a structural barrier; and one count of unauthorized introduction of a dangerous weapon upon a facility, installation or real property of the United States Department of Energy enclosed by a structural barrier. Zamora is also charged with two counts of illegal acquisition of a firearm. Demandre Michael Frazier is charged with one count of illegal acquisition of a firearm. A jury trial has been scheduled for November 2, 2026, before Chief U.S. District Judge Andrew P. Gordon. The FBI and North Las Vegas Police Department are investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Dan Cowhig is prosecuting the case. An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. ###


title: Camden County Business Owner Admits to Employment Tax Fraud

component: USAO - New Jersey

body_text: CAMDEN, N.J. – A Camden County man admitted to failing to pay over to the IRS payroll taxes for the employees of his business, U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer and Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald announced. Tyrone Pitts, 60, of Lawnside, New Jersey, pleaded guilty before Chief U.S. District Judge Renée Marie Bumb to an information charging him with one count of failing to collect, truthfully account for, and pay over to the IRS payroll taxes. According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court: From 2020 through 2023, Pitts was the owner, operator, and president of a construction company called Arline Electrical Construction Services LLC (“AECS”). Pitts had the authority to exercise significant control over AECS’s financial affairs and was a “responsible person” of AECS, meaning that he was required to collect, truthfully account for, and pay over to the IRS the payroll taxes withheld from the wages of AECS’s employees. However, during that same time period, Pitts almost entirely failed to file Form 941 employment tax returns and failed to pay over to the IRS approximately $810,403 in employment taxes. The tax fraud count carries a maximum penalty of 5 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentencing is scheduled for January 12, 2027. U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer and Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald credited special agents of IRS-Criminal Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Jenifer Piovesan in Newark, with the investigation leading to today’s guilty plea. On April 7, 2026, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (“Fraud Division”). The Fraud Division is investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Bender of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Camden and Trial Attorney Hayter L. Whitman of the National Fraud Enforcement Division. 26-192 ### Defense counsel: Nicholas Harbist, Esq., Princeton, New Jersey. pitts.information.pdf


title: Omaha Men and Federal Inmate Sentenced for Cedar Bluffs Armed Bank Robbery

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: United States Attorney Lesley A. Woods announced that Bruce J. Dortch, 31, Delonta McKnight, 34, and Dontae D. Orduna, 36, all of Omaha, Nebraska, were sentenced in federal court in Omaha for their roles in an armed bank robbery. Senior United States District Judge Joseph F. Bataillon sentenced Dortch on August 17, 2026, and Orduna on August 31, 2026, to 204 months’ imprisonment: 120 months for bank robbery and 84 months for brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence. McKnight was sentenced on August 31, 2026, to 60 months’ imprisonment for conspiracy to commit bank robbery. McKnight’s sentence will be served consecutive to concurrent 96-month sentences imposed in U.S. District Court of Nebraska and U.S. District Court of Northern Georgia. There is no parole in the federal system. After Dortch and Orduna are released from prison, they will begin five-year terms of supervised release. McKnight will serve a three-year term of supervised release concurrent to the other terms of supervised release ordered in his prior cases. All were ordered to pay restitution to Community State Bank in the amount of $71,097. Between October 3 and November 7, 2023, McKnight and Dortch had a group chat where they agreed to “get money” and began plotting. At that time, McKnight was incarcerated at FCI Pollock because of a prior federal bank robbery conviction. McKnight utilized a smuggled phone to initiate the group chat. On January 14, 2025, Orduna and Dortch were captured on video surveillance arriving at Cedar Bluffs, Nebraska, and ultimately drove to the Community State Bank, where they were captured on video surveillance entering the bank wearing disguises to include realistic human face masks with handguns drawn. They pointed handguns at the bank employees and demanded money. Dortch grabbed an employee, led her to the vault at gunpoint, and demanded she place the money in a bag. Dortch and Orduna directed bank employees to spread bills to ensure there were no dye packs. Orduna took the money from the teller drawers, then Dortch and Orduna zip-tied the bank employees, instructed them to lie on the floor of the vault, and then closed the vault with the employees inside. Dortch and Orduna left the bank with $71,097.00, including bait bills. Beginning on January 25, 2025, McKnight, while still in prison, searched eBay for realistic, silicone human face masks and saved maps to various banks in Nebraska and Iowa with a smuggled phone and subsequently used the phone to email Dortch about banks that presented good robbery prospects. He advised Dortch about multiple banks in rural towns outside of Omaha, estimated their cash on hand, the amount of law enforcement presence in those towns, expected law enforcement response times to those banks, and he provided maps to the banks. McKnight specifically identified a bank in Modale, Iowa. On March 7, 2025, GPS tracking information taken in combination with records from Dortch and Orduna’s phone providers showed that Orduna and Dortch met up and travelled approximately 35 minutes together to Modale, Iowa, where they drove by the Community Bank to “case” it. On March 12, 2025, law enforcement foiled their apparent plans and arrested Dortch and Orduna at their respective residences and executed search warrants. At Orduna’s residence, law enforcement recovered $5,520 and a firearm. At Dortch’s residence, law enforcement recovered $11,210 including the Community State Bank bait bills, two firearms, the masks worn by Dortch and Orduna, and clothing worn during the robbery. “These sentences demonstrate that violence does not pay,” said U.S. Attorney Lesley Woods. “If you take a gun into a business and assault innocent employees who are simply doing their job, the United States Attorney’s Office will hold you maximumly accountable in federal court for those choices. The deputies and police officers that recovered the stolen money and the firearm performed a great public service in this case, and I thank them for it.” This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Omaha Police Department, and Saunders County Sheriff’s Office.


title: Omaha Man Granted Presidential Clemency Convicted Again:  Felon in Possession of a Firearm

body_text: United States Attorney Lesley A. Woods announced that Khyre Holbert, 31, of Omaha, Nebraska, was sentenced on September 3, 2026, in federal court in Omaha for being a felon in possession of a firearm. United States District Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. sentenced Holbert to 109 months’ imprisonment on the felon in possession charge and 46 months for violating his supervised release of a prior federal conviction, for a total of 155 months. There is no parole in the federal system. After Holbert is released from prison, he will begin a 3-year term of supervised release. On October 4, 2025, at 0134 hours, an Omaha Police officer was patrolling The Old Market when he was alerted to a “person with a gun” located “up the street”. The officer exited his cruiser at which time he heard a single gunshot. A short time later, officers located Victim 1 who was suffering from a gunshot wound to his right hip. A description of the shooter was provided along with his path of travel. Officers located an individual matching the suspect’s description near 13th and Farnam streets, identifying him as Holbert. Officers canvassed the area and located a single spent 9mm casing stamped “Aguila 9mm luger” at 12th and Howard streets. Officers canvassed the path of Holbert’s travel and located a discarded firearm directly in front of 1210 Howard Street. The firearm was located underneath a black Chevrolet SUV and identified as a Glock 43x 9mm handgun. The firearm was equipped with an extended high-capacity magazine that contained several rounds of “Aguila 9mm luger” live ammunition. Officers reviewed video surveillance footage and noted Holbert appeared at approximately 0136 hours walking north on South 13th Street. During this time, Holbert appeared to observe a marked police cruiser at which time he began running north out of the camera view toward the Gene Leahy Mall. At 0150 hours, Holbert can be seen returning to the north facing entrance of an area hotel. Holbert remained in this area until he was taken into custody. Officers obtained additional video surveillance from area businesses. The videos show Victim 1 and Holbert engaged in a verbal altercation on the corner of 13th and Howard streets. Holbert can be seen clutching his waistband repeatedly, as if concealing an item hidden underneath his clothing. Holbert and the victim then walk out of camera view to the southwest before a single gunshot is heard on the video. Holbert is then seen running east on Howard Street out of the camera view. The path of travel for Holbert was also noted to be the path where the firearm was located by officers. The spent 9mm casing stamped “Aguila 9mm luger” recovered on scene was determined to have been fired from the recovered Glock Model 43X 9mm firearm. Two fingerprints were recovered from the firearm’s internal magazine. A senior forensic technician with the Omaha Police Forensic Investigations Unit identified the fingerprints as belonging to Holbert. Holbert has multiple prior felony convictions for Carrying a Concealed Weapon -2 nd offense, possession of a firearm by felon, both in the District Court for Douglas County, Nebraska. Holbert was arrested in 2017 as part of Operation Brass Catcher, a Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives-led operation targeting Crips gang members. Holbert was indicted on 10 counts, including four counts of distributing crack cocaine, three counts of possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking, and three counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm. Holbert pleaded guilty to several counts and was sentenced to 240 months’ custody in the Bureau of Prisons. On January 21, 2025, Holbert, along with several thousand inmates, was granted Executive Clemency by the Biden administration and released after serving just 100 months of his original 240-month sentence. Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice’s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys’ offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department’s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump’s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Omaha Police Department.


title: Lincoln Man Sentenced for Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine

component: USAO - Nebraska

body_text: United States Attorney Lesley A. Woods announced that Curtis Soester, 49, of Lincoln, Nebraska, was sentenced on August 27, 2026, in federal court in Lincoln for one count of possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of actual methamphetamine. United States District Judge Susan M. Bazis sentenced Soester to 262 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Soester’s release from prison, he will begin a 10-year term of supervised release. On August 28, 2025, Soester’s parole officer received information that Soester was selling drugs while at work. Lincoln Police Officers went to his workplace and spoke with him. Soester admitted he had methamphetamine and turned over a pouch containing approximately 16 grams of methamphetamine packaged in several bags. Soester also admitted he had methamphetamine in his car. Investigators searched his car and found approximately 62 grams of methamphetamine, multiple unused baggies, and a digital scale. At the time, Soester was on parole for drug distribution. His sentence was enhanced because of his prior felony convictions for drug distribution and robbery. This case was investigated by the Lincoln Police Department and the Lincoln/Lancaster County Narcotics Task Force (LLCNTF).


title: Texas couple sentenced for operating website selling smuggled pesticides and veterinary drugs

component: Energy and Natural Resources Division

body_text: WASHINGTON — Thao Duong and Lam Mai, a wife and husband from Garland, Texas, were sentenced today in federal court to charges stemming from their operation of a website selling veterinary drugs and pesticides smuggled into the United State from Mexico. Duong was sentenced to three months in prison, two years of supervised release, and a forfeiture of more than $1.5 million. Mai was sentenced to two years of probation. “Trafficking toxic chemicals into the United States is a blatant assault on our national security and public safety,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan R. Raybould for the Northern District of Texas. “These defendants pumped dangerous, foreign sourced pesticides and drugs into our country recklessly putting American communities at risk. This sentence makes clear we will be uncompromising in the prosecution of those who engage in illicit activities that threaten our people, our environment and the integrity of our borders.” “The defendants in this case traded human safety and environmental health for illicit profit,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of the Justice Department’s Energy and Natural Resources Division (ENRD). “The Justice Department will continue to investigate and prosecute transnational crimes to secure our border and protect the health and safety of Americans.” “No one should profit from bringing illegal chemicals into the United States and poisoning American communities,” said Assistant Administrator Jeffrey A. Hall for EPA’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance. “Illegal Mexican pesticides and animal steroids are a dangerous combination. The sentence in this case underscores the importance of the cooperative efforts of federal, state, and local agencies to disrupt smuggling operations and secure our nation’s borders from foreign harm.” “The FDA is charged with ensuring that veterinary drugs meet rigorous safety standards. When individuals smuggle and distribute misbranded and unapproved veterinary drugs, they jeopardize the health of animals,” said Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Lamb of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)’s Office of Criminal Investigations, Kansas City Field Office. “We will continue to pursue and bring to justice those who distribute misbranded and unapproved animal drugs unlawfully.” According to filings and evidence presented in court, in approximately 2011, Duong began using various online platforms to sell animal care products to customers throughout the United States. The products she sold were used primarily by people engaged in rooster fighting ventures. Duong was not a veterinarian and did not require customers to provide veterinary prescriptions to purchase veterinary drugs. She also sold products such as Cipio Vet, Baytril Max, and Caterrol, which are produced in Mexico and not approved by the FDA for use in the United States. In 2017, she added the pesticides Taktic and Bovitraz to her inventory. Neither Taktic nor Bovitraz were registered with the EPA for sale or use and could not be sold legally in the United States. In 2018, Duong started a website, which she used as her primary means of selling and distributing veterinary drugs and pesticides. After launching the site, Duong entered into agreements with several co-conspirators to purchase veterinary drugs and pesticides that she knew had been smuggled into the United States from Mexico. The smuggled pesticides and veterinary drugs were brought into the United States through the Calexico Port of Entry in Imperial County, California, and placed in storage units near the border. Duong’s co-conspirators then shipped the products from California to Texas. Between 2018 and 2022, Duong obtained approximately $2.4 million worth of smuggled merchandise from her co-conspirators. Lam Mai was the shipping manager for the website. After orders were received, he packaged the pesticides and veterinary drugs and distributed them to customers throughout the country using the U.S. Postal Service and other shippers. According to the EPA, the active ingredient in the pesticides Taktic and Bovitraz is amitraz, which is toxic to bees if released into hives, and then ultimately to humans when it ends up in honey, honeycomb, and beeswax. Misuse of amitraz-containing products in beehives can result in exposures that could cause neurological effects and possibly reproductive effects in humans from the consumption of contaminated honey. Signs of neurotoxicity from exposure to amitraz have been documented in multiple animal species and include central nervous system depression, decrease in pulse rate, and hypothermia. The EPA and FDA investigated the case, with assistance from Homeland Security Investigations and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. Trial Attorney Lauren D. Steele of ENRD’s Environmental Crimes Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Vincent J. Mazzurco and Madeleine Case for the Northern District of Texas prosecuted the case. ENRD is a member of the Department of Justice’s Trade Fraud Task Force, a cross-agency law enforcement effort that also involves the Criminal and Civil Divisions’ Fraud Sections, ENRD, the Department of Homeland Security, and U.S. Attorney’s Offices nationwide. The Task Force was created to leverage all of the Department’s tools and authorities to prevent trade fraud that deprives the government of vital revenue, threatens critical domestic industries, undermines consumer confidence, and weakens national security. The Task Force is designed to pursue enforcement actions against parties who seek to evade tariffs and other duties, as well as smugglers who seek to import prohibited goods into the American economy. The Justice Department encourages whistleblowers to alert the government to credible allegations of fraud, including utilizing the qui tam provisions of the False Claims Act or through the Criminal Division’s Corporate Whistleblower Program at CorporateWhistleblower@usdoj.gov using the form available here .


title: Ohio Missionary Enters Guilty Plea for Child Exploitation Crimes in Haiti

component: Criminal Division

body_text: Today, Jeriah Mast, 45, of Millersburg, Ohio, entered a guilty plea today to two counts of engaging in illicit sexual conduct with minors in Haiti. According to court documents, Mast traveled from the United States to Haiti on multiple occasions between 2002 and 2019, including with the organization Christian Aid Ministries (CAM), where he sexually abused minors. Law enforcement obtained flight records showing that Mast had taken over 30 flights from the United States to Haiti between November 2002 and August 2018. Sentencing is set for Dec. 15, 2026. “Jeriah Mast preyed on vulnerable children while working in Haiti as a missionary,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “His guilty plea to multiple counts of engaging in illicit sexual conduct with minors reflects both the severity of his crimes and our unwavering commitment to holding U.S. citizens accountable when they exploit children abroad. This type of predatory conduct — committed by someone entrusted with missionary work — represents a profound betrayal of trust, and today’s plea is an important step toward justice for the many victims harmed by Mast’s actions.” “This defendant violated the innocence of children and violated the trust of those who supported his supposed missionary work,” said U.S. Attorney David M. Toepfer for the Northern District of Ohio. “It is reprehensible behavior that we will prosecute to the fullest. We thank the investigators from HSI and the Holmes County Sheriff’s Office for their hard work bringing this man to justice.” “The defendant’s guilty plea underscores HSI’s critical mission to identify and investigate those who exploit children, including individuals entrusted with positions of authority, no matter where the crimes are committed,” said Special Agent in Charge Jared Murphey of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Detroit. “Together with our law enforcement partners, HSI Cleveland will continue working to hold child predators accountable in the United States and to seek justice for victims wherever our investigations take us.” HSI Cleveland investigated the case with substantial assistance from the Holmes County, Ohio, Sheriff’s Office. Trial Attorney Jessica L. Urban of the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Margaret Kane and Jennifer King for the Northern District of Ohio are prosecuting the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit www.justice.gov/psc .


title: Russian National Extradited to United States for Bank Account Takeover Fraud Scheme Causing Millions of Dollars in Losses

body_text: ATLANTA – Sergei Anatolyevich Filimonov, a Russian national and web developer who was extradited from the Republic of Georgia, appeared in federal court last week on fraud and aggravated identity theft charges stemming from his alleged role in a transnational conspiracy responsible for large‑scale bank account takeovers. “This investigation and indictment underscore our commitment to disrupting large-scale cyber theft,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “With assistance from our international partners, we will relentlessly pursue those who weaponize technology for personal gain and hold them fully accountable in an American courtroom.” “Filimonov allegedly used spoofed domains and fraudulent login pages to target unsuspecting online banking customers, stealing millions from victims,” said Marlo Graham, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “This announcement is a powerful demonstration of the value of our partnerships on cybercrime, without which these extraditions and arrests would not be possible.” According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information presented in court: from November 2023 through October 2025, Filimonov and his co‑conspirators executed a sophisticated scheme involving spoofed domains that mimicked the websites of federally insured financial institutions. The conspirators purchased sponsored search‑engine links to divert unsuspecting banking customers to fraudulent login pages, where victims entered their credentials. The conspirators used the stolen credentials to access bank accounts, review account balances, and initiate unauthorized wire transfers to steal bank account funds. The indictment also alleges that Filimonov developed and maintained online infrastructure supporting the operation, including interactive databases storing more than 5,000 stolen login credentials and software designed to capture and transmit sensitive authentication data. Filimonov and his co-conspirators allegedly attempted to obtain millions of dollars from victim accounts, including accounts held by companies located in the Northern District of Georgia. In connection with the charged scheme, the Department of Justice previously seized the domain web3adspanels.org, which operated as a backend server storing stolen credentials harvested from fraudulent banking websites. The seized server contained thousands of compromised credentials, including those belonging to victims located in the Northern District of Georgia. Since January 2025, the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) received more than 5,100 complaints reporting bank account takeover fraud, with reported losses exceeding $262 million. The public is encouraged to stay vigilant and to follow steps recommended by the FBI , including regularly monitoring financial accounts, using “Bookmarks” or “Favorites” for navigating to login websites, and guarding against phishing attempts. On November 4, 2025, a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging Sergei Anatolyevich Filimonov, 36, of Russia, with conspiracy to commit bank and wire fraud; access device fraud conspiracy; multiple counts of bank, wire, and access device fraud; and aggravated identity theft. On September 4, 2026, Filimonov appeared before a federal magistrate judge in Atlanta and pled not guilty. If convicted on all charges, he faces a minimum of two years and a maximum penalty of 175 years in prison. Members of the public are reminded that the indictment only contains charges. The defendant is presumed innocent of the charges, and it will be the government’s burden to prove the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial. Filimonov is being held in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending further proceedings. This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Substantial assistance was provided by the Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs, the Estonian Office of the Prosecutor General, the Estonian Police and Border Guard Board, the Prosecutor General’s Office of Georgia, the Georgian Central Criminal Police Department, and the FBI Office of the Law Enforcement Attaché in Tbilisi. Assistant United States Attorney Jessica C. Morris and Senior Counsel Brian Mund of the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section (CCIPS) are prosecuting the case. Former CCIPS Trial Attorney Jolee Porter assisted in the investigation. For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6185. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga .


title: Multi-Kilogram Fentanyl Seizure in Homeland Security Task Force Investigation Nets Guilty Plea by Fort Walton Beach Man

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: Pensacola, Florida – Aubrey Darnell Joseph Sr., 36, of Fort Walton Beach, Florida, pleaded guilty in federal court to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl and possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl. John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida announced the charges. U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “President Donald J. Trump designated fentanyl as a weapon of mass destruction because of the utter devastation it has wrought on communities nationwide, and this criminal was caught peddling large quantities of this deadly drug to make a profit off of the death and despair it inflicts. Thanks to the outstanding investigative work of our state and federal law enforcement partners, supported by the Gulf Coast High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force, his days of threatening the health and safety of our communities are now at an end.” Court records establish that between 2024 and 2026, the defendant participated in a conspiracy to obtain and distribute large quantities of fentanyl in the Northern District of Florida. In April 2026, federal authorities executed a search warrant at the defendant’s house in Fort Walton Beach, during which nearly two and a half kilograms of fentanyl, an industrial sized press and multiple press plates, and almost $5,000 in cash were found and seized. The defendant faces a minimum mandatory sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment, and up to life imprisonment, on each count. The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office, with assistance from the Gulf Coast High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Jessica S. Etherton and Alicia H. Forbes. 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 comprises agents and officers from multiple agencies with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida. The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl .


title: Foreign National Pleads Guilty To Health Care Fraud Scheme Targeting Medicare Advantage Programs

component: USAO - California, Northern

body_text: SAN JOSE - Sevindik Huseynov, a national of Azerbaijan, pleaded guilty in federal court today to three counts of health care fraud in connection with a $137 million scheme targeting Medicare Advantage Programs. Huseynov, 48, formerly of Sunnyvale, California and a national of Azerbaijan was indicted by a federal grand jury on September 25, 2025. Under the plea agreement, Huseynov pleaded guilty to three counts of health care fraud. In pleading guilty, Huseynov, who was the Chief Executive Officer of a fraudulent durable medical equipment (DME) company, Vonyes Inc., admitted to aiding and abetting a scheme to submit thousands of fraudulent claims to Medicare Advantage Organizations (MAOs). The claims were submitted on behalf of unsuspecting beneficiaries and sought reimbursement for medical equipment such as wound dressing and orthotic braces. Beginning in January 2025 and continuing until Huseynov was arrested on June 17, 2025, he participated in the scheme with other individuals in the United States and abroad to submit large volumes of claims to MAOs offering Medicare Part C benefit plans. In total, Huseynov, through Vonyes, sought reimbursements of at least $137 million from MAOs for medical equipment that was not provided, not needed by patients, and not authorized by a medical provider. Huseynov admitted to receiving reimbursement checks for $2.8 million and depositing those checks in Vonyes bank accounts he set up. After the money was deposited, Huseynov wired most of the money to bank accounts in Hong Kong. Huseynov is currently in federal custody. Huseynov’s sentencing hearing is scheduled for February 2, 2027 at 1:30 PM before U.S. District Judge Noel Wise. Huseynov faces a maximum statutory penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for a violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1347, health care fraud. Any sentence will be imposed by the court after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Maya Karwande with the assistance of Lynette Dixon, Ambereise McElrath, and Mimi Lam. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. On April 7, 2026, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (“Fraud Division”). The Fraud Division is investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.


title: Following trial, Hamilton man sentenced to 2 years for unlawfully possessing firearms

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

body_text: MISSOULA – A Hamilton man who unlawfully stored a cache of firearms at his house was sentenced today to 24 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, Acting U.S. Attorney Mark Steger Smith said. After a one-day trial on April 13, 2026, a jury found Shawn Ryan Cowan, 46, guilty of unlawfully possessing a firearm. U.S. District Judge Donald W. Molloy presided. The government alleged in court documents and at trial that Cowan, who had previously been convicted of multiple felonies, was keeping guns in his home. A tip to law enforcement led investigators to seek a warrant and search Cowan’s home. There they found: Ruger SR-22, .22 cal. pistol Raven Arms P25, .25 cal. pistol F.LLI Pietta Fabrica D'Armi, Big Bore Rough Rider, .357 cal. revolver Derya Arms (Derya Silah Sanayi) TM22-A-18, .22 cal. rifle Marlin Firearms Co. 20, .22 cal. rifle High Standard Sentinel, .22 cal. revolver North American Arms NAA22, .22 cal. revolver Smith & Wesson 18, .22 cal. revolver Derya Arms (Derya Silah Sanayi) VRPA40, 12-gauge shotgun Heritage Mfg. Inc. Rough Rider, .22 cal. revolver Investigators also found various types of ammunition. Cowan had been convicted previously of aggravated kidnapping, burglary, and possession of dangerous drugs in Montana and so was required to register as a violent offender for life. Cowan, who became belligerent with agents as he was arrested, acknowledged he was “technically a felon,” but said he owned guns because his conviction was fraudulently obtained by county officials. The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. The ATF and Ravalli County Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation.


title: Six Defendants Indicted by Grand Jury for Conspiracy to Steal $5.1 Million in Business Checks

component: USAO - Minnesota

body_text: MINNEAPOLIS – United States Attorney Daniel N. Rosen announced that Willie Roy Turner Jr. , aka “J.S.B.” and “Little Willie,” 29, of Chicago, Illinois, along with five co-conspirators, has been indicted on one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud, one count of bank fraud, one count of aggravated identity theft, and one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud. Turner Jr. made his initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Shannon G. Elkins on September 4, 2026. Turner Jr. is the lead and one of six defendants in the case, and all were indicted by grand jury on June 26, 2026. The defendants charged in this conspiracy and their charges include: Marc Anderson , aka “K.T.C.” and “Sam Smith,” is charged with one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud, one count of bank fraud, and one count of aggravated identity theft. Billy Ray Cameron Jr. , aka “J.A.M.,” of Chicago, Illinois, is charged with one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud, one count of bank fraud, one count of aggravated identity theft, and one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud. Devontay Colbert , aka “J.A.M.,” of Chicago, Illinois, is charged with one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud, one count of bank fraud, and one count of aggravated identity theft. Dontae Williams , aka “F.O.A.,” of Chicago, Illinois, was charged with one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud, one count of bank fraud, and one count of aggravated identity theft. Takiya Shemwell , of Chicago, Illinois, was charged with one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud. According to the indictment, from at least in or about November 2022 to at least on or about September 2024, Turner Jr., Anderson, Cameron Jr., Colbert, and Williams knowingly conspired to defraud banks and credit unions in the Twin Cities area by negotiating stolen checks. The five defendants opened, or attempted to open, fraudulent and unauthorized bank accounts in the names of business victims at Twin Cities financial institutions. They then deposited checks payable to or paid from the business victims, which had been stolen from the United States mail, into the accounts using fraudulent personal identification and documentation related to the business victims. The defendants then fraudulently withdrew or attempted to withdraw the funds. The five defendants engaged in the scheme by registering the payee business victims as new Minnesota Limited Liability Corporations. They then used the Limited Liability Corporation documents to open and attempt to open the unauthorized and fraudulent bank accounts. In opening the bank accounts, the defendants presented fraudulent identification in the names of other individuals and falsely claimed that they were authorized representatives of the payee business victims. After depositing the funds, the defendants and their co-conspirators withdrew the fraudulently obtained funds through cash withdrawals or cashier’s check purchases. As part of the scheme, Turner Jr., Cameron Jr., and Shemwell , conspired to steal the business victims’ checks from the U.S. Mail. Shemwell , who was then an employee of the United States Postal Service in Chicago, identified and stole business mail pieces which contained checks paid from or payable to the Business Victims. Shemwell then sold the business victims’ checks to Turner Jr. and Cameron Jr. in exchange for payments on a peer-to-peer money transfer application. Turner Jr. and Cameron Jr. then shared the stolen checks with other co-conspirators and with each other. In the course of their scheme, these conspirators deposited or attempted to deposit business victim checks worth over $5.1 million at Twin Cities financial institutions. In total, the defendants were successful in stealing over $1.5 million in business victim funds. The Minnesota Financial Crimes Task Force (MNFCTF) protects and serves the public by investigating financial crimes related to identity theft, with a special emphasis on organized criminal enterprises. The MNFCTF is comprised of multi-jurisdictional law enforcement agencies working together to provide investigative expertise and resources. The MNFCTF includes representatives from local, state, and Federal agencies. This case is the result of an investigation conducted jointly under the auspices of the MNFCTF by the United States Postal Inspection Service, Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, Eagan Police Department, Richfield Police Department, and the Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office, with significant assistance from the United States Marshals Service in Minnesota, Illinois, and Arizona. Assistant United States Attorneys Rebecca E. Kline and Bryan T. Mette are prosecuting the case. An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Minnesota State Trooper Sentenced to 27 Years’ Imprisonment for the Production and Distribution of Child Pornography

body_text: MINNEAPOLIS – United States Attorney Daniel N. Rosen announced that Jeremy Francis Plonski was sentenced to 324 months in prison and 180 months of supervised release for the production of child pornography and the distribution of child pornography. Plonski was sentenced before U.S. District Judge Kate M. Menendez on September 8, 2026. He previously pleaded guilty on October 8, 2025. According to court documents, from about April 2023 to October 2023, Plonski produced 23 child pornographic videos. In some of the videos, Plonski, who worked as a Minnesota State Trooper, wore his uniform while personally sexually abusing a minor victim. Plonski then distributed videos that depicted him sexually abusing the minor victim on a social media application. “This defendant took an oath to protect the public, but he instead committed one of the most abhorrent offenses imaginable. Today’s sentence represents my office’s commitment to protect vulnerable children and the cooperation among federal and local law enforcement,” said United States Attorney Daniel N. Rosen. “As we said in our previous statement, no badge, no title, and no position will ever place anyone above the law. Protecting the vulnerable is our duty. Anyone who violates that duty has no place in this organization or in our profession. We are grateful for the work that went into this investigation and for the accountability that followed,” said Colonel Christina Bogojevic, Chief of the Minnesota State Patrol. “Jeremy Plonski was terminated by the Minnesota State Patrol.” “Jeremy Plonski betrayed everything he swore to protect,” said FBI Minneapolis Field Office Special Agent in Charge Christopher D. Dotson. “The sexual abuse and exploitation of children is always horrendous crime, and as a law enforcement officer, Mr. Plonski knew the terrible harms that come to victims of these offenses. As we did in this case, the FBI and our partners will always act with immediacy and spare no resource to protect children from predators. While a prison sentence cannot repair the harms these crimes have caused, we hope that today’s outcome will offer the victim and their family the sense of peace, safety, justice, and hope they deserve as they work toward healing.” “When someone sexually abuses a child, it is repulsive to all of us, but when it is also someone who wears a badge, it is even more disturbing,” said Bureau of Criminal Apprehension Superintendent Drew Evans. “He vowed to uphold the law and he broke that promise. We are thankful for this result and that he has been held accountable for his actions.” This case was the result of an investigation by the FBI, Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, with assistance from the Minnesota State Patrol and other law enforcement partners. The case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Minnesota. 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. 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. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc . Note: Previous press release on the defendant’s charge and indictment linked here.


title: New York Man Pleads Guilty to Bank Fraud Conspiracy

body_text: BANGOR, Maine: A New York man pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Bangor to conspiring to commit bank fraud. According to court records, between July and October 2024, Sean Stevens , 23, fraudulently obtained money by driving coconspirators to bank locations, instructing them on what to do inside, and providing them with fictitious identification cards in order to allow them access to legitimate customer accounts. Stevens also agreed with coconspirators to travel to banks outside of Maine. Stevens faces up to 30 years in prison, a maximum fine of $1 million, and up to five years of supervised release. He will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigative report by the U.S. Probation Office. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The FBI investigated the case with assistance from the Bangor Police Department, the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency, and the Maine Bureau of Motor Vehicles – Enforcement Services Division. ###


title: Kansas Woman Pleads Guilty to Bank Fraud and Identity Theft Charges

component: USAO - Maine

body_text: BANGOR, Maine: A Kansas woman pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Bangor to one count of conspiring to commit bank fraud and eight counts each of bank fraud, passport fraud, and aggravated identity theft. According to court records, in October 2025, Rachael Kennedy , 37, entered multiple financial institutions in Penobscot and Aroostook counties and impersonated actual account holders by presenting fictitious U.S. passport cards in the account holders’ names. Kennedy obtained $30,400 by withdrawing funds from preexisting home equity lines of credit. Kennedy was arrested in Canada after fleeing from police when she left a bank in Houlton. For bank fraud, Kennedy faces up to 30 years in prison, a maximum fine of $1 million, and up to five years of supervised release. For aggravated identity theft, she faces a mandatory prison term of two years, consecutive to any other sentence imposed; a $250,000 fine; and up to one year of supervised release. For passport fraud, Kennedy faces up to 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and up to three years of supervised release. She will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigative report by the U.S. Probation Office. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service, Portsmouth Resident Office, and Homeland Security Investigations investigated the case with assistance from U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the Maine State Police, the Hampden Police Department, the Houlton Police Department, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, and the Canadian Border Services Agency. ###


title: Illegal Alien from England Sentenced for Entering the US Without Inspection and Lying to Federal Investigators

body_text: BANGOR, Maine: A citizen of the United Kingdom was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Bangor for entering the United States without inspection and lying to federal investigators. U.S. Magistrate Judge John C. Nivison sentenced Mohammed Sultan Saleh , 22, to time served. Saleh pleaded guilty on June 18, 2026. According to court records, Saleh and three other men walked through the heavily wooded border between Quebec and Somerset County during the pre-dawn hours of April 3, 2026. Their point of entry was within a few hundred yards of the Saint Zacharie, Maine port of entry that was manned by agents of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Field Operations (“OFO”). Upon exiting the woods, Saleh and his companions began walking down the Golden Road heading east. Passersby in the area reported to an OFO agent seeing the four men walking east on the Golden Road. The OFO agent reported the sighting to the U.S. Border Patrol (“USBP”) station in Jackman. A USBP agent and an OFO agent responded to the area of the sighting, located the four men and took them into custody without incident. When questioned about their citizenship, Saleh and his three companions stated they were citizens of the United Kingdom. The four were then transported back to the Jackman Border Patrol station. During subsequent questioning by FBI and USBP agents, Saleh maintained that he had not intentionally entered the United States. He falsely claimed that he and his friends were on a hike in Canada and had accidentally crossed into the U.S. USBP, OFO, Homeland Security Investigations, and the FBI investigated the case. Operation Take Back America: This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). ###


title: Pizza Store Robber Sentenced to 18 Years in Federal Prison

component: USAO - Florida, Middle

body_text: Tampa, Florida – Justin Alan Seymour (37, Tampa) has been sentenced by U.S. District Judge Virginia M. Hernandez Covington to 18 years in federal prison for Hobbs Act robbery, brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, and possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. A federal jury found Seymour guilty in April 2026. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement. According to testimony and evidence presented at trial, in October 2024, while robbing a pizza store in Tampa, Seymour pointed a gun at the store clerk. Law enforcement obtained their first break in the case when they obtained dashcam video from a delivery vehicle parked outside the store, then utilized the video to ascertain specific unique characteristics of the suspect’s vehicle. Two days later, law enforcement pulled over the vehicle being driven by Seymour, who had a firearm in his waistband. Seymour’s cellphone data placed him near the pizza store at the time of the robbery. At the time of the offense, Seymour had a prior felony conviction for attempted robbery with a firearm or deadly weapon. Therefore, he is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition under federal law. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office. The Federal Bureau of Investigation assisted with the cellphone analysis. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Samantha Newman. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the Department of Justice’s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys’ offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department’s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump’s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.


title: Palmetto Man Pleads Guilty to Straw Purchase of Firearm

body_text: Tampa, Florida – Desmin Terrell Belvin Jr. (21, Palmetto) today pleaded guilty to making a false statement to a federally licensed firearm dealer. Belvin faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement. According to court records, on March 21, 2026, Belvin was the transferee of a Glock handgun from a firearm store in Bradenton. During the transfer, Belvin falsely stated that he was the actual transferee or buyer of the handgun, when in fact, he was obtaining the handgun on behalf of a juvenile. Belvin subsequently provided the handgun to the juvenile after leaving the store. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and the Palmetto Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jeff Chang. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the Department of Justice’s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys’ offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department’s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump’s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities. .


title: Mexican National Sentenced to Prison for Aggravated Identity Theft, Passport Fraud, and Firearms Offenses

body_text: Orlando, Florida – Ivvan Hernandez Servin (38, Mexico) has been sentenced by United States District Judge Paul Byron three years in federal prison for aggravated identity theft, passport fraud, and firearms offenses. Hernandez Servin pleaded guilty on May 28, 2026. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement. According to court documents, Hernandez Servin is a Mexican national who was unlawfully in the United States. He used the stolen identity of a United States citizen to fraudulently obtain a United States passport, which he used to travel back and forth between the United States and Mexico. At the time of his arrest, Hernandez Servin was found in possession of several firearms, despite being a prohibited person. To obtain two of those firearms, Hernandez Servin had falsely stated that he was born in the United States. This case was investigated by the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It was prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Matthew Del Mastro. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.


title: Mexican National Sentenced to 24 Months for Illegal Reentry

body_text: Orlando, Florida – Marcos Moreno-Navarro (33, Mexico) has been sentenced by U.S. District Judge Paul G. Byron to two years in federal prison for illegal reentry into the United States. Moreno-Navarro pleaded guilty on May 22, 2026. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement. According to court documents, Moreno-Navarro is a citizen of Mexico. He was previously deported from the United States in 2015 and again in 2022. Moreno-Navarro was previously convicted of two felony offenses. In 2017, Moreno-Navarro was convicted of illegal reentry by a previously deported alien and sentenced to three months and seven days’ imprisonment. In 2022, Moreno-Navarro was convicted of possession of methamphetamine and sentenced to one month imprisonment and one year of probation. On February 27, 2026, Moreno-Navarro was encountered by the Lake County Sheriff’s Office and arrested for driving under the influence, for which he was subsequently convicted. He was identified as an alien unlawfully present in the United States, and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement was contacted. This case was investigated by the Lake County Sheriff’s Office and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations. It was prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Jerry M. Harre. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.


title: Jacksonville Sex Predator Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Possession of Child Sexual Abuse Material

body_text: Jacksonville, Florida – Alexander Charles Whitaker (41, Jacksonville) has been sentenced by Chief United States District Judge Marcia Morales Howard to 10 years in federal prison, followed by a lifetime of supervised release, for possession of child sex abuse material (CSAM). Whitaker pleaded guilty on May 8, 2026. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement. According to court documents, law enforcement officers received a cybertip that a social media user from Jacksonville had uploaded files of CSAM. After reviewing the information in the cybertip, law enforcement officers obtained a search warrant for the social media account and learned that it belonged to Whitaker. After reviewing Whitaker’s Facebook account, further evidence led to a search warrant of Whitaker’s home where his cellphone was seized and searched. Whitaker’s phone contained more than 100 images and videos depicting CSAM. At the time of this offense, Whitaker was on probation following a Florida state prison sentence for possession of child pornography. In addition, since Whitaker has been classified as a sexually violent predator, once he serves his prison sentence, under Florida law, he will be committed to a security facility for control, care, and treatment. This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, and the Northeast Florida INTERCEPT Task Force. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney John Cannizzaro. It is another case brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify, rescue, and seek justice for victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc .


title: Chicago Man Indicted for Interstate Threats

body_text: Orlando, Florida – Daquan Lamont Smith (20, Chicago, IL) has been charged by indictment with interstate transmission of a threat. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 5 years in federal prison. United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement. According to the indictment, on December 6, 2025, Smith knowingly transmitted in interstate commerce a communication containing a true threat to injure passengers on a cruise ship, including during a recorded call to the cruise, during which Smith stated: “I’m coming from, I’m coming. I’m on the cruise boat coming from Bahamas that left two days ago, and I’m letting you guys know now I have a bomb on the boat and I want to blow it up.” An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys in the Orlando division of the United States Attorney’s Office.


title: Restaurant Owner Pleads Guilty to Employment Tax Scheme

component: USAO - Massachusetts

body_text: BOSTON – The owner and operator of two Massachusetts restaurants pleaded guilty today in federal court in Boston to paying employees in cash over the course of six years without withholding and paying federal employment taxes to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Marios Michalakis, 44, of Westwood, Mass., pleaded guilty to six counts of failing to collect, report and pay over federal employment taxes. Senior U.S. District Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton scheduled sentencing for Dec. 8, 2026. From at least January 2016 through December 2022, Michalakis ran two restaurants – Amelia’s, located in Stoughton, Mass., and Sofia Italian Steakhouse, located in West Roxbury, Mass. At each restaurant, Michalakis paid employees in cash “under-the-table,” that is, failed to withhold income taxes, Social Security taxes and Medicare taxes from employee wages. In total, Michalakis failed to pay more than $580,000 in employee and employer taxes owed to the IRS and the Massachusetts Department of Revenue. Michalakis faces up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater, together with restitution. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case. United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Thomas Demeo, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigations in Boston made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Victor A. Wild of the Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit is prosecuting the case.


title: Illegal Alien Sentenced for Passport and Benefit Fraud

body_text: BOSTON – A Dominican national unlawfully residing in Salem, N.H., was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for passport and SNAP fraud. Juan Felipe Chalas, 58, was sentenced by Judge Leo T. Sorokin to one year and one day in prison, to be followed by two years of supervised release. Chalas was also ordered to pay restitution of $304,932. The defendant is subject to deportation upon completion of the imposed sentence. Chalas was arrested in March 2026 and in May 2026 , pleaded guilty to passport fraud and illegal acquisition of SNAP benefits. For over two decades, Chalas used the name, birthdate and Social Security number of a United States citizen to apply for and receive Massachusetts driver’s licenses, U.S. passports, and over $25,000 in Social Security disability benefits, more than $12,000 in SNAP benefits and over $266,000 in MassHealth benefits. SNAP is a federal program administered by the states that provides funds for low-income individuals and families to purchase food. MassHealth is a federal and state program that provides medical benefits to low-income individuals. United States Attorney Leah B. Foley: Jeff Grimming, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England; Amy Connelly, Special Agent in Charge of the Social Security Administration, Office of Inspector General, Office of Investigations, Boston Field Division; Charmeka Parker, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Agriculture - Office of Inspector General, Northeast Region; Nathan Hebert, Special Agent in Charge of U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service, Boston Field Office; and Roberto Coviello, Special Agent in Charge of the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Grady of the Major Crimes Unit prosecuted the case. On March 26, 2026, United States Attorney Leah B. Foley announced the creation of the Benefit & Voter Fraud Team, a district-wide initiative established in response to the rampant fraud being uncovered across Massachusetts. Members of the public are encouraged to report suspected benefit fraud in Massachusetts by calling 1-855-SCAM-MA-1 (855-722-6621). On April 7, 2026, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division. The Fraud Division is investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.


title: Illegal Alien Pleads Guilty to Healthcare Benefit Fraud and Aggravated Identity Theft

body_text: BOSTON – A Dominican national unlawfully residing in Dorchester, Mass. pleaded guilty on Sept. 2, 2026 in federal court in Boston to healthcare benefit fraud and aggravated identity theft. Manuel Antonio Baez, 52, pleaded guilty to one count of falsely representing a Social Security number, one count of making false statements relating to health care matters and one count of aggravated identity theft. U.S. District Court Chief Judge Denise J. Casper scheduled sentencing for Dec. 2, 2026. In May 2026 , Baez was arrested and charged and has been held in custody since his arrest. Baez used the stolen identity of a U.S. citizen, including the citizen’s Social Security number, to obtain government benefits. Specifically, Baez represented that he was a U.S. citizen when applying for healthcare benefits in Massachusetts and submitted a sworn affidavit falsely alleging the same. Baez ultimately obtained over $80,000 in MassHealth benefits using the stolen identity. Baez also committed drug offenses in the name of the U.S. citizen, including a 2018 conviction for trafficking heroin and a 2007 conviction for possession with intent to distribute a Class B substance. The charge for falsely representing a Social Security number provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. The charge of making false statements relating to a health care program provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. The charge of aggravated identity theft provides for a mandatory two-year sentence to run consecutively to any other sentence imposed, one year of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. The defendant is subject to deportation upon completion of any sentence imposed. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case. On March 26, 2026 , United States Attorney Leah B. Foley announced the creation of the Benefit & Voter Fraud Team, a district-wide initiative established in response to the rampant fraud being uncovered across Massachusetts. Members of the public are encouraged to report suspected benefit fraud in Massachusetts by calling 1-855-SCAM-MA-1 (855-722-6621). On April 7, 2026, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division . The core mission of the Fraud Division is to zealously investigate and prosecute those who steal or fraudulently misuse taxpayer dollars. Department of Justice efforts to combat fraud support President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste and abuse within Federal benefit programs. United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Jeff Grimming, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England; and Roberto Coviello, Special Agent in Charge of the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Colin T. Missett of the Health Care Fraud Unit is prosecuting the case.


title: Former Physician at Veteran Affairs Medical Center Pleads Guilty to Child Pornography Offenses

body_text: BOSTON – A former physician employed at the Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Center in Bedford, Mass., pleaded guilty on Aug. 27, 2026 in federal court in Boston to receiving and possessing child sexual abuse material (CSAM). Sven Knudsen Ljaamo, 71, pleaded guilty on Aug. 27, 2026 to on one count of receipt of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography. U.S. District Court Chief Judge Denise J. Casper scheduled sentencing for Nov. 18, 2026. The defendant was previously arrested and charged by criminal complaint on April 23, 2025 and later indicted by a federal grand jury in May 2025 . According to the charging documents , law enforcement learned that over 100 files of suspected CSAM files had been uploaded to Ljaamo’s Google account. Several CSAM files, along with tens of thousands of pornography files, were found during a review of Ljaamo’s devices, including on a cell phone Ljaamo kept in his office at the VA Medical Center. The charge of receipt of child pornography provides for a sentence of at least five years and up to 20 years in prison, at least five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of possession of child pornography provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, at least five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case. United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; and Christopher Algieri, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General, Northeast Field Office made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Billerica, Lowell and Salem Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sandra Gonzalez Sanchez of the Criminal Division is prosecuting the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc .


title: New Jersey Man Pleads Guilty to Bank Fraud Conspiracy Involving More Than $1 Million in Fraudulent Pandemic Relief Loans

body_text: Boise – U.S. Attorney for the District of Idaho Bart M. Davis announced today that Xanare Bomani, of New Jersey, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud for participating in a scheme to defraud financial institutions and the Small Business Administration (SBA) through fraudulent Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) applications. On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (Fraud Division). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs. According to court records, between July 2020 and April 2021, Bomani worked with co-conspirators to falsify financial information and submit false applications to financial institutions in Boise and elsewhere to fraudulently obtain more than $1 million in COVID relief funds. Bomani faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in federal prison, a fine of up to $1 million, and up to five years of supervised release, along with restitution as determined by the court. Sentencing is scheduled for December 15, 2026, before Senior U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill. This case was investigated by the Buffalo field offices of the IRS-CI and FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brittney Campbell of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Idaho is prosecuting the case. ###


title: Newport News bank robber sentenced to over 12 years in prison

body_text: NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – A Newport News man was sentenced today to 12 years and three months in prison for bank robbery with a dangerous weapon and brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence. According to court documents, on or about Oct. 29, 2025, Curtis A. Robertson, 39, entered a bank in Newport News and waited in the teller line with a newspaper in his hands. When Robertson approached the teller window, he placed his newspaper, partially concealing a firearm, on the counter. The barrel of the firearm was visible to and pointed at the teller. Robertson passed the teller a note demanding money and the teller complied. Robertson then fled the bank with the stolen funds, leaving behind the note. Robertson discarded his newspaper and the hoodie he was wearing during the robbery into nearby dumpsters. On Nov. 4, 2025, Robertson again entered a Newport News bank, waited in line, and passed a teller a note demanding money. A number of sightings were reported of a suspicious person running through backyards, and a witness identified Robertson from photo surveillance. Robertson was arrested on Nov. 6, 2025. Theophani K. Stamos, First Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Dominique Evans, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Norfolk Field Office, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Mark S. Davis. The Newport News Police Department assisted in the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian J. Samuels prosecuted the case. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 4:26-cr-17.


title: Fannin County man sentenced to federal prison for buying and selling firearms without a license

body_text: SHERMAN, Texas –A Bonham man has been sentenced to federal prison for a firearms conspiracy in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs. Raymundo Duran Baza, 21, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to engage in the business of dealing firearms without a license and was sentenced to 60 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Michael Truncale on September 4, 2026. According to information presented in court, from September 2024 through October 2024, Baza and at least one other person conspired to engage in the business of dealing in firearms, while not being a licensed firearms dealer. During this time, Baza was responsible for buying and re-selling firearms and Machine Gun Conversion Devices for profit. 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 making our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump’s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities . This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Maureen Smith. ##


title: Montgomery County Man Charged With Cyberstalking in Connection With Messages Targeting Local Official, Police Officer, and Their Families

body_text: PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that Scott Testa, 60, of Lafayette Hill, Pennsylvania, was arrested and charged by indictment with two counts of cyberstalking, arising from online conduct targeting a local government official, a police officer, and their families. The defendant appeared in federal court this afternoon for a hearing before U.S. Magistrate Judge Scott W. Reid, at which Testa was ordered detained in federal custody pending trial. The indictment alleges that, on multiple dates in April of this year, the defendant, with the intent to harass and intimidate two victims affiliated with Whitpain Township, used the internet and/or electronic mail to engage in a course of conduct that caused, attempted to cause, and would be reasonably expected to cause substantial emotional distress to the victims. Specifically, as alleged, in April 2026, Testa posted on Reddit an AI-altered image depicting one victim wearing a white Ku Klux Klan robe with the name of his current employer in the background, and included false information about the victim, which defendant Testa knew to be false when it was posted. Then, as further alleged, Testa posted the names of this victim’s children and an address of a home which he believed to be the victim’s true home address. In addition, the indictment alleges that, also in April 2026, Testa posted on Reddit an AI-altered image of a second victim and his family, including his minor children, with their faces exposed so that they could be identified, depicting them all wearing white Ku Klux Klan robes. Each time, along with the photograph, the defendant identified the victim and his family. Testa also posted messages directed at the victim, like “we are watching you,” “we are coming,” and “…This does not get erased; it’s forever. Your career and your family’s future is going to be pockmarked with you cowards. … we are going to run you out of town.” If convicted, the defendant faces a maximum possible sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment, three years of supervised release, a $500,000 fine, and a $200 special assessment. This case was investigated by FBI Philadelphia’s Fort Washington Resident Agency and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney J. Jeanette Kang. The charges and allegations contained in the indictment are merely accusations. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.


title: Broken Bow Resident Pleads Guilty To Three Counts Of Child Abuse In Indian Country

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Vicki Lou Rhyne, age 45, of Broken Bow, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to three counts of Child Abuse in Indian Country, each count punishable by a term of up to Life in prison and a $5,000 fine. The Indictment alleged that between in or about January 2025 and on or about August 5, 2025, Rhyne willfully and maliciously caused harm, failed to protect from harm, and tortured and injured three children under the age of eighteen. The Indictment further alleged that Rhyne withheld food as punishment, restrained the minor victims, and struck and slapped them, all while responsible for the children’s health, safety, and welfare. The crimes occurred in McCurtain County, within the boundaries of the Choctaw Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma. The charges arose from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the McCurtain County Sheriff’s Office. The Honorable Jason A. Robertson, Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report. A U.S. District Court Judge will determine the sentence to be imposed after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Rhyne will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicole Paladino represented the United States.


title: Sanford Man Sentenced to Over 10 Years in Federal Prison for Drug Trafficking

body_text: WILMINGTON, NC – A federal judge sentenced Aaron Cotten, 50, of Sanford, NC, to 10 and half years in federal prison for conspiracy to distribution and possession with intent to distribute 11 pounds or more of cocaine, 400 grams or more of fentanyl and a quantity of heroin, possession with intent to distribution 500 grams or more of cocaine, and 40 grams or more of fentanyl. “Cotten’s repeated traffic stops revealed large amounts of cocaine and fentanyl, along with cash and signs of armed associates, showing just how deeply he was involved in the dangerous drug game,” said U.S. Attorney Ellis Boyle. “His efforts to hide this poison, including stuffing a pound of fentanyl inside a car’s engine bay, put communities across Eastern North Carolina at serious risk. With prior convictions for violent crimes and a steady supply line stretching from Charlotte to Down East. This conviction shuts down a major pipeline of deadly drugs in our region. This Big Shark Bad Boy will no longer swim in the shallows threatening our children and communities. Simple Lesson: Drugs Kill, Prison Awaits – Do Right.” On March 15, 2022, the Duplin County Sheriff’s Department stopped a vehicle with Cotten in the front passenger seat. Deputies detected a strong odor of marijuana and searched the vehicle, finding more than $15,000 in cash near Cotten’s seat. When deputies attempted to search Cotten, he became combative, resisting arrest. Deputies then searched Cotten and recovered more than a pound of cocaine and several ounces of fentanyl. On April 3, 2024, the Lee County Sheriff’s Department conducted another traffic stop involving Cotten, who again sat in the front passenger seat. After a K‑9 alerted to narcotics, deputies searched the vehicle and discovered approximately one pound of fentanyl concealed in the engine bay of the car. Deputies also found a gun on another passenger. The investigation revealed that Cotten distributed pounds and pounds of cocaine and fentanyl across Eastern North Carolina. He sourced the drugs from Charlotte. Cotten has prior convictions for robbery with a dangerous weapon and second‑degree burglary. “Today’s sentence reinforces our commitment to holding drug traffickers accountable,” said Michael J. Connolly, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Field Division. “Cocaine and fentanyl trafficking threaten the safety of our communities, and combating these threats requires teamwork and strong partnerships across law enforcement. We will continue working together to disrupt the flow of dangerous drugs and make progress toward a Fentanyl Free America.” “Wherever illegal narcotics are being sold, you find that the likelihood of violent crime greatly increases,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Alicia Jones. “Every drug trafficking network that gets taken down is an opportunity to prevent violent crime and better protect our communities.” Ellis Boyle, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after the sentencing before Chief U.S. District Judge Richard E. Myers II. The ATF, DEA, Jacksonville Police Department, Beulaville Police Department, Goldsboro Police Department, Duplin County Sheriff’s Office, and Lee County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case. A copy of this press release is located on our website . Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 7:24-CR-00068-M-RJ


title: New Appointments Strengthen the USAO EDNC Commitment to Safer Communities

component: USAO - North Carolina, Eastern

body_text: First Assistant United States Attorney administered the oath of office to newly appointed personnel who will serve in the Eastern District of North Carolina, including three Assistant United States Attorneys and a Budget Analyst. The USAO EDNC is responsible for a broad range of federal criminal and civil matters and works closely with local communities and law enforcement partners by upholding the rule of law, protecting constitutional rights, and strengthening public trust throughout the eastern region of NC.