title: Registered Sex Offender in Sacramento Charged with Multiple Counts of Producing Child Sexual Abuse Material

body_text: SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Mickey O’Brien, 31, of Sacramento, was arrested Wednesday and is scheduled to appear in court today after a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging him with two counts of attempted sexual exploitation of minors, two counts of sexual exploitation of minors, and one count of committing a sex offense while being required to register as a sex offender, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced. According to court documents, between 2022 and 2023, O’Brien used Snapchat to induce multiple underage girls as young as 11 to produce and send him sexually explicit depictions of themselves. At the time of these alleged offenses, O’Brien was subject to a lifetime sex offender registration requirement in Sacramento County due to prior sex crimes he committed against minors. Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation with assistance from the Internet Crimes Against Children Unit of the Sacramento Valley Hi-Tech Crimes Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sam Stefanki is prosecuting the case. If convicted of the counts of sexual exploitation of minors or attempted sexual exploitation of minors, O’Brien faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 15 years in prison and a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison as well as a $250,000 fine. If convicted of committing a sex offense while being a registered sex offender, O’Brien faces a mandatory sentence of 10 years in prison to be served consecutively with any other sentence. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by 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 those who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc .


title: Modesto Man Indicted for Illegal Possession of Ammunition

component: USAO - California, Eastern

body_text: SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned an indictment against Amador Faalaga, 39, of Modesto, charging him with being a felon in possession of ammunition, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced. According to court documents, on July 2, 2026, Faalaga, possessed 16 rounds of 9 mm ammunition. Faalaga is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition because of a prior felony conviction for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine in the Eastern District of California (Case No. 1:15-cr-319). The Modesto Police Department conducted the investigation with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney George Biko is prosecuting the case. If convicted, Faalaga faces a maximum statutory penalty of 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice’s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys’ offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department’s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump’s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.


title: Grand Jury Indicts Father and Son for Kidnapping Two Forest Service Employees in Shasta-Trinity National Forest

body_text: SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned a seven-count indictment today against Joseph “Charles” Henrichsen, 49, and his son, Phoenix Henrichsen, 23, after a 15‑hour hostage crisis in the Shasta-Trinity National Forest that drew an extensive and coordinated response from local, state, and federal law enforcement, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced. The defendants, temporary residents of Siskiyou County, are charged with two counts each of kidnapping a federal employee. Charles Henrichsen faces additional charges including two counts of assaulting a federal employee with a deadly weapon, two counts of brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence, and one count of assault on a federal officer. According to court documents, on July 16, 2026, two U.S. Forest Service employees were conducting routine environmental work near Gumboot Lake Campground when Charles Henrichsen approached them with an AR-10 semiautomatic rifle. He bound their hands, and with Phoenix’s help, forced them into a remote trailer where they were held for the next 15 hours. Charles called multiple individuals stating that he had taken two federal employees hostage and was armed. The incident triggered a massive multi-agency response. Officers and agents from across the country converged on the remote Siskiyou County location. After hours of negotiations, FBI crisis negotiators secured the safe release of both victims and the surrender of both suspects. The defendants are in custody pending trial. The FBI conducted the investigation with assistance from the U.S. Forest Service, Homeland Security Investigations, the Bureau of Land Management, the Siskiyou County Sheriff’s Office, the Shasta County Sheriff’s Office, the Mt. Shasta Police Department, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, and the California Highway Patrol. Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Campbell is prosecuting the case. If convicted, both defendants face a maximum statutory penalty of life in prison and a $250,000 fine. If convicted of the additional charges, Charles Henrichsen faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for assault on a federal employee with a deadly weapon, a mandatory minimum sentence of fourteen years in prison (to run consecutive to any other sentence) and a $250,000 fine for brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence, and up to one year in prison and a $100,000 fine for assault on a federal officer. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.


title: Wilmington Man Indicted for Fentanyl Found in Storage Unit

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: WILMINGTON, Del. – A federal grand jury has returned an indictment charging a Wilmington man with possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl. According to the indictment, Rangi Knight, 52, stored approximately 183 grams of fentanyl packaged for distribution inside a Wilmington storage unit he leased. Officers recovered about 1,300 stamped glassine bags of fentanyl, additional bulk fentanyl, and drug-trafficking paraphernalia, including digital scales and packaging materials. Court documents indicate that Knight was on federal supervised release at the time of this offense following a 2023 conviction for passport fraud. Knight is charged with one count of possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl. If convicted, Knight faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 5 years in prison and a maximum possible sentence of 40 years. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. U.S. Attorney Benjamin L. Wallace and Special Agent in Charge Jimmy Paul, FBI Baltimore, made the announcement. The FBI and the Delaware State Police investigated the case. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Delaware. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the District of Delaware or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:26-cr-117. The charges contained in the indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.


title: Dover Man Indicted for Possessing Privately Manufactured “Ghost Gun”

body_text: WILMINGTON, Del. – A federal grand jury has returned an indictment charging a Dover man with unlawfully possessing a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon. According to the indictment, Joe Murray, 35, possessed a privately made, unserialized Polymer80 9mm semiautomatic handgun—otherwise known as a “ghost gun”—loaded with a magazine containing 16 rounds of ammunition. Officers also recovered an additional bullet from Murray’s pocket. Murray is charged with one count of possession of a firearm and ammunition by a prohibited person. If convicted, Murray faces a maximum possible sentence of 15 years in prison. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. U.S. Attorney Benjamin L. Wallace and Special Agent in Charge Charles Doerrer, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), made the announcement. ATF and the Dover Police Department investigated the case. This prosecution 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 . A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Delaware. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the District of Delaware or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:26-cr-119-GBW. The charges contained in the indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.


title: Previously Convicted Robber Sentenced in Southeast D.C. Firearm and Ammunition Case

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

body_text: WASHINGTON — Antoine Gatling, 33, a previously convicted violent felon, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 36 months in prison in connection with his unlawful possession of a .380-caliber semi-automatic pistol, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. Gatling was found guilty following a stipulated trial before Judge Richard J. Leon of one count of unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition by a felon. In addition to the 36-month prison term, Judge Leon ordered Gatling to serve three years of supervised release. Federal prosecutors had requested a 37-month prison term. According to court papers, on March 1, 2024, at about 9:04 a.m., a 911 caller reported a man trying to break into an apartment in the 4500 block of 3rd Street SE, describing him as wearing a black jacket, black pants, and black-and-white shoes, carrying a black bag, and armed with a handgun tucked into his waistband. Metropolitan Police Department officers responded to the scene. The first officer arrived at about 9:11 a.m. and found Gatling in the doorway of the apartment complex, matching the caller's description. The officer asked Gatling to step outside for a pat-down. As the officer reached a satchel worn across Gatling's back, Gatling began to resist. Additional officers responded, and Gatling was handcuffed. Officers removed the satchel and felt the outline of a firearm inside. Inside, they found a .380 Llama semi-automatic pistol. A further search of Gatling's clothing turned up a round of ammunition and a loaded magazine. Gatling was previously convicted of robbery with a dangerous weapon in Prince George's County, Maryland, for which he was sentenced to 20 years in prison, with 13 years suspended, followed by five years of probation. The investigation was conducted by the Metropolitan Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Washington Field Office. The matter was prosecuted under the Make D.C. Safe and Beautiful initiative by Assistant U.S. Attorney Nickolas Reck. Make D.C. Safe and Beautiful is a law enforcement initiative in support of President Trump's Executive Order to crack down on gun violence, prioritize federal firearms violations, pursue tougher penalties, and seek detention for federal firearms violators. 25cr125 Follow us on X , Instagram , and YouTube Or at https://www.justice.gov/usao-dc


title: Maryland Felon Pleads Guilty in D.C. to Federal Firearm Charge After Traffic Stop Uncovers Loaded Glock, Drugs

body_text: WASHINGTON – Samuel Fapohunda, 27, a previously convicted felon residing in Maryland, pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in connection with his illegal possession of a Glock 19 pistol with a 17-round magazine, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. Fapohunda pleaded guilty before Judge Trevor N. McFadden to one count of unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition by a felon. Judge McFadden scheduled sentencing for Dec. 3, 2026. According to court documents, on June 25, 2026, at 6:45 p.m., officers on patrol in the 1800 block of 18th Street SE found a vehicle parked with its engine running and an illegally-tinted window. An officer approached the car and the driver rolled down his window when officers smelled marijuana. The driver, identified as Fapohunda, admitted he had been smoking. Officers ordered the occupants out of the car. As the passenger stepped out, officers saw a burnt marijuana cigarette in her hand. A federal law enforcement officer conducted a protective pat-down of Fapohunda and felt a firearm in his waistband. Before officers recovered it, Fapohunda blurted out, “it’s under my shorts,” repeating the phrase three times. Officers recovered a loaded Glock 19 9mm handgun with a 17-round magazine. A search of the vehicle turned up marijuana, a nearly full bottle of codeine-based cough syrup, drug paraphernalia including a scale and baggies with residue, and $985 in cash. A criminal history check showed Fapohunda was previously convicted of robbery in Arlington County, Virginia, and sentenced to five years incarceration, with four years suspended, making his possession of the firearm and ammunition illegal under federal law. The investigation was conducted by the Metropolitan Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Washington Field Office. The matter was prosecuted under the Make D.C. Safe and Beautiful initiative by Assistant U.S. Attorney David Liss. Make D.C. Safe and Beautiful is a law enforcement initiative in support of President Trump's Executive Order to crack down on gun violence, prioritize federal firearms violations, pursue tougher penalties, and seek detention for federal firearms violators. 26cr157 Follow us on X , Instagram , and YouTube Or at https://www.justice.gov/usao-dc


title: Illegal Alien Sentenced for Trafficking Fentanyl, Methamphetamine While Armed at Northwest D.C. Rental

body_text: WASHINGTON – Hieu Trung Vu, 37, a previously convicted felon and illegal alien from Vietnam, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 60 months in prison in connection with drug trafficking from a Georgetown Airbnb and unlawful possession of two firearms, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. “This defendant showed a complete disregard for our laws and our borders, yet he chose to arm himself with weapons and narcotics. A previously convicted felon, he continued to put American communities at risk by trafficking fentanyl and methamphetamines,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “This illegal alien is exactly the type of offender the Trump administration is working tirelessly to remove from our country and after serving his sentence, he will be deported.” Vu pleaded guilty on March 17, 2026, before Judge Amit P. Mehta to one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, cocaine, amphetamine, cocaine base, and fentanyl, and to one count of unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon. Because of his illegal status, after Vu serves his 60-month prison term he will be subject to deportation to Vietnam. According to court papers, on Dec. 4, 2025, police received an emergency call reporting that a woman was in an apartment with a man, later identified as Vu, who was in possession of narcotics. Officers determined the location was a short-term rental in the 1400 block of Wisconsin Avenue NW in Georgetown and obtained a search warrant. When officers executed the warrant, they recovered two handguns from a backpack in a bedroom, along with a substantial quantity of narcotics, drug paraphernalia, and a debit card bearing Vu's name from a bag in the kitchen. Vu acknowledged that the firearms and narcotics were his, court papers state. Laboratory testing confirmed the narcotics included methamphetamine, cocaine, cocaine base, amphetamine, and fentanyl. One of the recovered firearms was loaded, court papers state. Vu has a previous 2022 felony conviction in Fairfax County, Virginia, for possession with intent to manufacture or sell a controlled substance, for which he received a five-year sentence with more than two years suspended. This investigation was conducted by the Metropolitan Police Department, with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Washington Field Division. The matter was prosecuted under the Make D.C. Safe and Beautiful initiative by Assistant U.S. Attorneys David B. Liss and Caelainn Carney. Make D.C. Safe and Beautiful is a law enforcement initiative in support of President Trump's Executive Order to crack down on gun violence, prioritize federal firearms violations, pursue tougher penalties, and seek detention for federal firearms violators. Police recovered this Glock 43X, 9mm pistol from Vu’s Airbnb. Police also recovered this CZ Model 27, 7.65mm pistol from Vu’s Georgetown Airbnb. 26cr55 Follow us on X , Instagram , and YouTube Or at https://www.justice.gov/usao-dc


title: Contractor Agrees to Pay $50,000 to Resolve Allegations of Invoicing Employee Food Expenses Disguised as IT Products

component: USAO - District of Columbia

body_text: WASHINGTON – The United States Attorney for the District of Columbia announced today that it reached a civil settlement agreement with Ventana Productions, Inc. (“Ventana”) to resolve allegations that on multiple occasions over a period of years Ventana hid food expenses for its employees by charging the Government for non-existent products and services. Pursuant to the settlement, Ventana agreed to pay the United States $50,000. “Waste, fraud, and abuse of taxpayer dollars will not be tolerated,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “Every day, this Office works aggressively to expose fraud and abuse that diverts taxpayer dollars from their intended purpose. Contractors have a duty to bill the government honestly, and when they violate that trust, we will act decisively to hold them accountable.” “Federal contractors are expected to bill the government honestly and accurately,” said Judd Leinum, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Department of Commerce Office of Inspector General. “Disguising employee meal expenses as information technology products and services undermines the integrity of the federal procurement process. Any attempt to falsely bill the Department will not be tolerated. This settlement demonstrates our commitment to protecting taxpayer funds and holding contractors accountable for false claims. We appreciate the partnership of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia in resolving this matter.” Ventana is a video production company with offices in Washington, DC and New York, NY. Ventana performed multimedia production support work for the U.S. Census Bureau (“Census”), a component of the U.S. Department of Commerce, under two General Services Administration contracts. Acting on an anonymous tip, the Department of Commerce Office of Inspector General (“OIG”) conducted an investigation that found seven instances of Ventana invoicing Census for charges that were designed to hide the costs of employee meals. Based on Ventana records and interviews, the OIG uncovered Ventana falsely invoicing Census for “hard drives,” “media transfer,” and “parking” that were disguising food purchased from a variety of establishments, including among others, Dunkin Donuts, Corner Bakery, Panera Bread, and Joe Theismann’s Restaurant. Based on seven false invoices, spanning July 2019 to February 2024, Census paid Ventana $1,533.27 that it would not have otherwise paid. To settle potential claims for damages and penalties under the False Claims Act and related causes of action, Ventana has agreed to pay the United States $50,000. After OIG and the U.S. Attorney’s Office investigated the matter, a settlement was completed by Assistant United States Attorney Sean M. Tepe, with the assistance of Auditor Timothy J. Hurley, and a Special Agent with the Department of Commerce OIG. The claims resolved by the civil settlements are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability. ventana_settlememt_agreement_signed.pdf


title: Anchorage man sentenced to 6 years for possessing a firearm as a felon during a domestic violence assault

component: USAO - Alaska

body_text: ANCHORAGE, Alaska - An Anchorage man was sentenced Tuesday to over six and a half years in prison for possessing a firearm as a felon while he committed a crime of domestic violence. According to court documents, in November 2024, Detallion Owens, 29, violently assaulted a domestic partner while a child was present. Court documents explain that Owens was intoxicated and started an argument with the victim. As the argument progressed, Owens pulled out a gun, pulled the slide back to rack a bullet and pointed it at the victim’s head while she was holding a newborn child. Owens continued the argument and then stole the victim’s phone and keys before fleeing in her car. Law enforcement officers later found Owens as the sole occupant of the victim’s car and attempted to barricade the car to prevent him from fleeing. Owens attempted to flee by ramming the stolen car forward and backward into the police cars, but he was unsuccessful. Owens then attempted to flee on foot but was apprehended by officers. Law enforcement officers found Owens’ loaded handgun in plain view on the driver’s seat and later discovered it was stolen. Officers also recovered the victim’s phone and a loaded magazine that fell from Owens’ person during the struggle with police. At the time of this incident, Owens had a felony conviction for robbery in the first degree, prohibiting him from possessing firearms. He was also actively on state probation for armed robbery and assault convictions at the time of this offense. On Jan. 21, 2025, Owens was indicted by a federal grand jury. On May 6, 2025, Owens pleaded guilty to one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm. At sentencing, the Court also ordered Owens to serve three years on supervised release upon completion of his prison sentence. “Mr. Owens perpetrated a frightening act of domestic violence in front of a child, earning a lengthy sentence under federal criminal law,” said U.S. Attorney Michael J. Heyman for the District of Alaska. “I want to commend the police officers and law enforcement that apprehended Mr. Owens as swiftly as possible before more damage occurred. Charging domestic violence offenders with being a felon in possession of a firearm is one of the tools my office will continue to leverage in the federal system to make the community safer.” “The sentence imposed today reflects the serious danger this defendant posed to our community. The defendant’s actions were not isolated acts of poor judgement, but deliberate, violent choices that put innocent lives at grave risk,” said Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Blais of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Seattle Field Division. “ATF remains committed to working alongside our law enforcement partners to identify, investigate, and hold accountable those who use firearms to threaten, intimidate, and endanger others.” The ATF Seattle Field Division and Anchorage Field Office investigated the case with significant assistance from the Anchorage Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mac Caille Petursson prosecuted the case. This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. ###


title: Texas Laboratory, Former CEO, and Florida Businessman Pay a Total of $36.4M to Settle Allegations of Kickbacks and Unnecessary Genetic Testing

component: Civil Division

body_text: Access DX Laboratory, located in Houston, Texas, its former CEO Michael Stewart, and Florida businessman Harold Shatz, have each entered into settlements and will pay a combined total of $36.4 million to the United States to resolve allegations that they violated the False Claims Act (FCA) by paying kickbacks and billing Medicare and Medicaid for medically unnecessary genetic testing. The United States alleged that, from January 2018 through January 2020, Access DX, Stewart, and Shatz paid kickbacks to marketers in return for referrals of patients for genetic testing, unbundled billing codes for genetic testing, paid telemedicine providers for false and fraudulent doctors’ orders, and submitted and caused the submission of false claims for genetic testing. “Healthcare referrals must reflect the best decision for patients, not the influence of kickbacks,” said Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “This resolution demonstrates the Department’s commitment to hold accountable both corporations and individuals who profit from improper kickback arrangements and who burden federal healthcare programs with claims for medically unnecessary services.” “This settlement sends a clear message that we will not tolerate fraudulent schemes that waste taxpayer dollars and undermine trust in our medical system,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg for the Northern District of Georgia. “We will aggressively pursue any provider or entity that seeks to exploit federal programs through excessive billing and illegal kickbacks.” “Kickbacks and medically unnecessary genetic testing schemes not only drain taxpayer-funded federal health care programs, but undermine the integrity of our U.S. health care system and drive up health care costs for all of us,” said Acting Deputy Inspector General for Investigations Miranda L. Bennett of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “HHS OIG will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to aggressively pursue health care fraud and protect Medicare, Medicaid, and the people who rely on them.” In connection with its settlement, Access DX entered into a five-year Corporate Integrity Agreement (CIA) with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). The CIA requires Access DX to implement auditing and accountability provisions, including implementation of a robust compliance program, training and education requirements, and a review of arrangements with referral sources. On June 24, Stewart agreed to plead guilty to conspiracy to defraud the United States and to pay and receive health care kickbacks in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 371. United States v. Stewart , Case No. 4:22-cr-328 (S.D. Tex.). On Oct. 15, 2025, Shatz agreed to plead guilty to conspiracy to defraud the United States and to pay and receive health care kickbacks in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 371. United States v. Shatz , No. 4:24-cr-330 (S.D. Tex.). Both men entered into civil FCA settlements at the time of their pleas. The civil settlements include the resolution of claims brought under the qui tam or whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act by Douglas Green, president of a Massachusetts marketing company hired to market genetic testing to Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries. Under those provisions, a private party can file an action on behalf of the United States and receive a portion of any recovery. The qui tam case is captioned U.S. ex rel. Green v. Access DX Lab LLC, et al. , No. 1:19-cv-2845 (N.D. Ga.). The settlements provide for the whistleblower to receive a $7.2 million share of the total settlement amount. The resolution obtained in this matter was the result of a coordinated effort between the Justice Department’s Civil Division, Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section, and the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia, with assistance from HHS-OIG. The matter was handled by Fraud Section Senior Litigation Counsel Laurie A. Oberembt of the Justice Department’s Civil Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Neeli Ben-David for the Northern District of Georgia. The investigation and resolution of this matter illustrate the government’s emphasis on combating healthcare fraud. One of the most powerful tools in this effort is the False Claims Act. Tips and complaints from all sources about potential fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement, can be reported to the Department of Health and Human Services at 800-HHS-TIPS (800-447-8477). This year the Administration launched the Task Force to Eliminate Fraud and the National Fraud Enforcement Division to enhance the Administration’s war on fraud, waste, and abuse in federal programs. When unscrupulous actors exploit these programs for their own financial gain, they defraud the government, harm the people these programs are designed to aid and protect, and undermine American businesses that play by the rules. The Civil Division’s FCA enforcement plays a critical role in combatting such fraudulent schemes, recovering billions of dollars for the American taxpayers, and holding wrongdoers accountable. FCA matters will continue to be on the forefront of the battle against fraud, and the Civil Division’s FCA work will support and advance the mission of the Task Force to Eliminate Fraud and the National Fraud Enforcement Division. Except to the extent admitted by Stewart and Shatz in their plea agreements, the claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability.


title: Southwest Georgia Man Sentenced on Federal Dog Fighting, Firearms, and Drug Trafficking Charges

component: Energy and Natural Resources Division

body_text: Dun Terrius Bradford, of Sale City, Georgia, was sentenced today to 120 months in prison after being convicted in December of 69 counts of illegally possessing dogs for fighting purposes, one count of manufacturing and possessing with intent to distribute cocaine base, and one count of possessing firearms in furtherance of those offenses. In addition to the prison sentence, the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Georgia also imposed five years of supervised release and $6900 in mandatory assessment. The 67 pit bull-type dogs rescued from Bradford’s residence were, at the time, the third-most dogs rescued in any federal case. This case also marks the nation’s first federal conviction for possessing firearms in furtherance of dog fighting. One of 67 dogs rescued from Bradford’s residence. “Dog fighting is organized crime, and it’s a magnet for other criminal activity, as this case demonstrates,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of the Justice Department’s Energy and Natural Resources Division (ENRD). “Americans detest animal cruelty and the illegal drugs and guns that come with it. The Department of Justice is fighting to get these criminal elements out of our neighborhoods.” “Dog fighting is a grave act of animal cruelty that breeds crime and depravity, bringing illegal drugs, firearms and violence into our communities,” said U.S. Attorney William R. “Will” Keyes for the Middle District of Georgia. “This first-ever federal conviction for possessing firearms in furtherance of dog fighting demonstrates our commitment to working with law enforcement partners to dismantle these criminal organizations and protect both animals and the communities they harm.” “This investigation exposed a dangerous criminal operation involving organized dog fighting activities that inflicted horrific abuse on animals while also serving as a breeding ground for other serious criminal activity such as the narcotics and firearms violations that this defendant engaged in,” said U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Inspector General John Walk. “This case demonstrates USDA OIG’s commitment to aggressively pursuing those who profit from animal cruelty, and we thank our law enforcement partners and the prosecutors who worked with us to ensure this defendant was held accountable.” “This case demonstrates the good results achieved when local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies collaborate to rescue dogs suffering at the hands of those involved in dog fighting and related crimes,” said Acting U.S. Marshal Joseph “Joe” Chapman for the Middle District of Georgia. “The U.S. Marshals remain committed to supporting law enforcement in bringing those responsible for dog fighting to justice and ensuring that rescued canines are placed in protective custody, giving them a chance at a better life.” According to court documents and trial evidence submitted in this case, Bradford maintained a stock of 67 fighting dogs at his home in Sale City. At this compound, agents also recovered tools and supplies used in the training and keeping of dogs used for fighting, including: blood-splattered treadmills that had been modified to hold dogs in place conditioning; injectable veterinary steroids; a homemade “breeding stand” used to immobilize female dogs too aggressive for breeding; a cattle shock prod with dog DNA on the tip; and a large cinder-block water tank used to tether dogs that had to tread water to keep from drowning. Officers also recovered cocaine base and the pot in which it was cooked, plus four firearms. Water tank used to train dogs. Blood-spattered treadmill used to train dogs. Under federal law, it is illegal to fight dogs in a venture that affects interstate commerce and to possess, train, transport, deliver, sell, purchase, or receive dogs for fighting purposes. This case was the first in the nation in which prosecutors obtained a federal conviction for possessing firearms in furtherance of dog fighting. USDA-OIG and the Mitchell County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case with assistance from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Marshals Service. Criminal Chief Leah McEwen of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Georgia and former Senior Trial Attorney Ethan Eddy of ENRD’s Environmental Crimes Section prosecuted the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Morrill and Paralegal Kristi Cote for the Middle District of Georgia handled a parallel civil forfeiture proceeding to ensure that the dogs did not have to be returned to Bradford. The Seized Canine Program of the U.S. Marshals Service cared for the rescued dogs pending legal process.


title: Justice Department’s Fraud Division Announces Unprecedented Fraud Enforcement Actions in Southeast Resulting from Federal–State Partnerships

component: National Fraud Enforcement Division

body_text: The Justice Department’s National Fraud Enforcement Division today announced a series of significant fraud enforcement actions across the Southeastern United States, the product of robust federal-state partnerships with Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, and South Carolina. The charges announced today encompass 17 cases spanning the seven states. These recent cases involve over $350 million in intended losses and include cases involving SNAP benefits, Small Business Administration loans, housing benefits, and tax fraud. From July 4 alone, federal prosecutors charged cases reaching over $90 million in loss and implicating 12 named defendants. The Division separately announced the formation of federal-state anti-fraud task forces in North Carolina, Mississippi, and Florida. The Division additionally announced new federal-state cooperation agreements with this group of states to strengthen ongoing fraud enforcement efforts, following a recent roundtable that brought together 18 U.S. Attorneys Offices, seven State Attorneys General Offices, five federal law enforcement partners, and over 50 state officials. “Defeating the fraud epidemic in our country requires all-hands-on-deck from our federal and state partners nationwide,” said Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald of the National Fraud Enforcement Division. “Whether it’s sharing intelligence, data, personnel, or priorities, partnering with state agencies directly strengthens our ability to identify those stealing taxpayer dollars. When federal prosecutors work alongside state agencies to root out fraud, fraudsters lose and the American people win.” “Working alongside our federal and interstate partners, we are committed to combating fraud at every level. Our collaborative partnerships allowed us to uncover more than $20 million in Medicaid fraud claims during an operation known as Operation Border Wars,” said South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson . “ My office also recently indicted six individuals accused of defrauding taxpayers and stealing jobs from hardworking South Carolinians by providing counterfeit employment documents to illegal aliens. The rule of law means something in South Carolina, and we will continue working with our law enforcement partners to dismantle these schemes and prosecute those responsible to the fullest extent of the law.” “We appreciate the Trump Administration's commitment to rooting out fraud in government healthcare programs, including the creation of a dedicated state-federal partnership to lead this fight,” said Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall. “Thanks to the Administration’s serious commitment to ending waste, fraud, and abuse, we now have the tools and coordination needed to identify bad actors and hold them accountable. Together, we are protecting the integrity of Medicaid and the taxpayer dollars that fund it.” “With the help of the Trump administration, the states are fighting back against benefits fraud,” said Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murill. “Since taking office, my administration has secured more than 100 convictions and $73 million in court-ordered restitution. Under the leadership of Acting Attorney General Blanche, Director Patel, and Administrator Oz, our partnership is holding criminals accountable and delivering real results for the taxpayers of Louisiana and the nation.” “President Trump has challenged all of us to step up our efforts to fight fraud and protect American taxpayers from this grift,” said Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch. “Partnerships like this one show that we are bringing everything to the table in this work. In that spirit, with the support of the U.S. Department of Justice, my office is standing up Joint Task Force Vigilance with our two U.S. Attorneys and the FBI to surge resources and personnel to make Mississippi safer, protect Mississippi taxpayers, and restore law and order. This first-of-its-kind task force will bring the full authority of our offices to bear on con artists, grifters, fraudsters, and scammers.” Building a National Model of Federal-State Cooperation In connection with these fraud enforcement actions, the Fraud Division, U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, federal law enforcement officials, and state partners announced the following innovative steps to enhance federal–state cooperation to detect, investigate, and prosecute fraud: The Fraud Division and Secretaries of State from Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, and South Carolina as well as State Treasurers from Florida, Mississippi, and South Carolina announced data sharing agreements that provide the Fraud Division access to publicly available corporate registration and public benefits payment data held by these state agencies. This data will help the Fraud Division proactively identify connections and patterns across both business entities and public benefits payment activity — cutting through the shell companies, layered structures, and complex financial trails that fraudsters rely on to conceal control and carry out largescale schemes. Federal and State Partners Represented at the 2026 Southeast Fraud Enforcement Partnership Event Alabama : Secretary of State Wes Allen and Chief Examiner Rachel Riddle. Florida : Attorney General James Uthmeier, Secretary of State Cord Byrd, and Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia. Georgia : Attorney General Chris Carr and Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger. Louisiana : Attorney General Liz Murrill, Secretary of State Nancy Landry, Auditor Michael Waguespack, and Inspector General Angele Davis. Mississippi : Attorney General Lynn Fitch, Secretary of State Michael Watson, Auditor Shad White, and Treasurer David McRae. North Carolina : Attorney General Jeff Jackson and Auditor Dave Boliek. South Carolina : Governor Henry McMaster, Attorney General Alan Wilson, Secretary of State Mark Hammond, Treasurer Curtis Loftis, Inspector General Sean Fay, and Director for South Carolina Department of Social Services Tony Catone. U.S. Attorneys Offices: Northern District of Alabama, Middle District of Alabama, Southern District of Alabama, Northern District of Florida, Middle District of Florida, Southern District of Florida, Northern District of Georgia, Middle District of Georgia, Southern District of Georgia, Eastern District of Louisiana, Middle District of Louisiana, Western District of Louisiana, Northern District of Mississippi, Southern District of Mississippi, Eastern District of North Carolina, Middle District of North Carolina, Western District of North Carolina, and District of South Carolina. Federal Agencies: U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Deputy Secretary Stephen Vaden, FBI Assistant Director Heith Janke, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Assistant Director James Harris, Small Business Administration Office of Inspector General William Kirk, and USDA Inspector General John Walk. These partnerships and actions demonstrate how state and federal partners can work together to strengthen fraud detection, share information, and accelerate enforcement efforts nationwide. The Department encourages every state across the country to partner with the Fraud Division on similar efforts. Federal and State Partners Represented at the 2026 Southeast Fraud Enforcement Partnership Event Cases Alabama Northern District of Alabama led by U.S. Attorney Phillip Williams, United States vs. Michael Shine . Michael Shine is a tax preparer based in the Birmingham area who owns and operates Shine’s Professional Services. He has filed and caused to be filed literally thousands of tax returns falsely claiming energy tax credits that were baseless and fraudulent, causing almost $70 million in loss as charged in a complaint. Example of "Self-Prepared" Attestation Seized During Search Warrant From United States vs. Michael Shine. Middle District of Alabama led by U.S. Attorney Thomas Govan, United States v Kevin Padgett et al . Kevin Padgett and co-defendants were charged in a mail fraud, wire fraud, and money laundering conspiracy in connection with their scheme to sell approximately $7 million counterfeit U.S. Postage Stamps. Southern District of Alabama led by U.S. Attorney Sean Costello, United States v. Nia Bradley, et al . Five defendants, Nia Bradley, Randy Burden, Steve Jones, Larry Knight, and Dejuan Lamar, board members and employees of the Prichard, Alabama Water and Sewer Works, created false invoices for work that was never performed and created fictitious construction companies for the purpose of defrauding the utility for a total loss amount of roughly $2.5 million. Florida Northern District of Florida led by U.S. Attorney John Heekin, United States v. Lekishaan Huggins . The former manager of the Tallahassee Housing Authority used former tenants’ Personally Identifiable Information (PII) to fraudulently obtain U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) rent subsidies for a total case loss of just over $500,000. As charged, Huggins used fraudulently obtained funds to sustain her luxurious lifestyle, including vacations, buying luxury apparel and jewelry, and having a celebrity chef cater her private Christmas party. Middle District of Florida led by U.S. Attorney Greg Kehoe, United States vs. Daniel Liburdi . Daniel Liburdi pled guilty in the Middle District of Florida to filing a false tax return and agreed to restitution of nearly $35 million and forfeiture including multiple properties in Miami Beach and the U.S. Virgin Islands and three luxury vehicles (Land Rover Range Rover, a Ferrari 812 and a Ferrari F8). Alleged Ferrari 812 and Ferrari F8 vehicles from United States vs. Daniel Liburdi. Alleged Virgin Islands property from United States vs. Daniel Liburdi. Alleged Miami Beach property from United States vs. Daniel Liburdi. Southern District of Florida led by U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones, United States vs. Rajaie Ali et al . Defendants Rajaie Ahmad Ali, Sami Jamhour, Cristian Amaro, and Adel Amro concocted a scheme to use willing food stamp recipients to sell their EBT stamp benefits at a discounted rate for cash. The scheme, launched in 2019, caused nearly $20 million in fraudulent EBT transactions at a Kwik Stop convenience store in Miami. Two of the indicted co-conspirators are foreign nationals. Defendant Ali is even subject to a final order of removal from the United States. Alleged Kwik Stop location responsible for multi-millions in SNAP Benefits Fraud from United States vs. Rajaie Ali et al. Georgia Northern District of Georgia led by U.S. Attorney Theodore Hertzberg, United States v. Ian Patrick Jackson . Defendant Ian Patrick Jackson pled guilty for running a fraud and money laundering scheme that stole more than $3 million in CARES Act funds administered by the SBA in the form of PPP and EIDL loans. Jackson has twice been convicted of previous fraud felonies, recruited at least nine business owners into his scheme to submit fraudulent applications, and spent the proceeds on personal expenses, including restaurant dining, spa services, phone and credit card bills, and travel to California, Texas, and Aruba. Southern District of Georgia led by U.S. Attorney Meg Heap, United States v Melanie Charise Thompson and Toriono Laselle Byrd . Defendant Thompson was indicted for orchestrating a scheme to defraud the Hinesville Housing Authority (HHA) of millions of dollars by using HHA funds to pay her former boyfriend for work that he never completed or paid him far in excess of what he should have been paid for work that was completed, sometimes in return for kickbacks. Purchases from fraud proceeds included custom jewelry worth over $100,000, a gold bracelet, a diamond ring, a Porsche Panamera, a Cadillac Escalade, a Bently Flying Spur, real estate, a hot tub, and tickets to a Janet Jackson concert, reaching nearly $3 million in loss. Louisiana Eastern District of Louisiana led by U.S. Attorney David Courcelle, United States vs. Spivey . Spivey was sentenced for his role in a conspiracy to commit health care fraud. Spivey conspired with his codefendant, Jamie McNamara, to fraudulently submit $174 million in fraudulent claims to Medicare for medically unnecessary cancer genetic testing and cardiovascular genetic testing. The genetic tests Medicare patients were lured into did not provide them with any answers on their predisposition to life threatening illnesses and cost taxpayers millions of dollars. Western District of Louisiana led by U.S. Attorney Zach Keller, United States v Patel et. al. Defendants , including former law enforcement officials, spent nearly 10 years manufacturing false crime reports as part of a visa-fraud scheme. The operation netted the officers $5,000 per “victim” and helped hundreds of foreign nationals secure U visas for false crimes. Middle District of Louisiana led by U.S. Attorney Kurt Wall, United States v Chakesha Scott et al ., Chakesha Scott was the CEO of Impact Charter School in Baker Louisiana, which received state and federal funds. Instead of using those funds to benefit the students, Scott and her indicted co-conspirators diverted nearly $1.5 million in federal funds to pay off family members for overinflated contracting invoices, buying herself luxury vehicles, and even paying for her personal travel expenses. Scott on personal travel in Egypt allegedly using taxpayer funds from United States v Chakesha Scott et al. Mississippi Northern District of Mississippi led by U.S. Attorney Scott Leary, United States v. Lakieth Faulkner et al . Lakeith Faulkner was an attorney and an employee of the Small Business Administration (SBA) who, as a part of his actual job, worked with borrowers and was uniquely positioned to understand the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) approval process. Faulkner devised a kickback scheme with co-conspirators including Tierra Scott, a former IRS employee, to generate more than $11.5 million in fraudulent loan payments by the SBA. Southern District of Mississippi led by U.S. Attorney Baxter Kruger, United States v. Qadir Shabazz, et al . As alleged, federal inmates housed at the Yazoo Federal Correctional Complex conspired to steal unemployment insurance benefits and EIDL funds using falsified identities, generating approximately $4.3 million in losses. Trial is set for February 2027. North Carolina Western District of North Carolina led by U.S. Attorney Russ Ferguson, United States v. Dumitru . Two Romanian brothers illegally in the United States pled guilty to wire fraud charging them with orchestrating a fraud scheme involving SNAP benefits affecting victims across multiple states, causing nearly $766,000 in loss. A victim reported that she was shopping with her family on their monthly grocery run for approximately $700 of SNAP-eligible items. Because the defendants had used her SNAP benefits, the transaction was denied, and the victim was unable to purchase food or school supplies for her family. Middle District of North Carolina led by U.S. Attorney Dan Bishop, United States v. Adedayo Afolabi Fateru . Fateru pled guilty as a member of a money laundering ring involving proceeds of various fraud schemes including false applications for Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) and false applications for unemployment benefits. He caused nearly $1.7 million in loss. Eastern District of North Carolina led by U.S. Attorney Ellis Boyle, United States v. Mitchell et al . A Robeson County woman (along with seven co-conspirators) who was the owner of a North Carolina tax return preparation business pled guilty to conspiring to prepare false returns claiming fraudulent refunds based on COVID-19 tax credits, causing nearly $25 million in loss. South Carolina District of South Carolina led by U.S. Attorney Bryan Stirling, United States v. Misty Dawn Woody . Misty Dawn Woody was charged by indictment for making false statements relating to healthcare matters. In her role as an employee for Vital Care, a medical patient transport service, Woody allegedly copied and forged a physician’s signature on over one hundred certification forms for patients that were no longer under that physician’s care. She submitted those forms to Medicare causing over $1.8 million in false and fraudulent billing. 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. An indictment, information, or complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Department of Justice Files First Case in U.S. Alien Terrorist Removal Court to Deport Afghan Alien Who Supported Her Family’s Plans for Election-Day Shooting

component: Office of the Attorney General

body_text: The Justice Department has filed the first-ever case in the U.S. Alien Terrorist Removal Court (ATRC), seeking to remove Nazira Haji Zada, 47, residing in Fort Worth, Texas. Zada, the matriarch of an alien Afghan family, is being removed for her role in a plot to commit an ISIS-inspired mass shooting on Election Day in 2024 for which her son, Abdullah Haji Zada, and son-in-law, Nasir Ahmad Tawhedi, were previously arrested and convicted. The application to remove Nazira Haji Zada was filed on July 15. Zada was arrested earlier this week and will appear before the ATRC’s Chief Judge Joan N. Ericksen in Washington, D.C. on Thursday, July 30, at 11:00 a.m. “Congress created the Alien Terrorist Removal Court three decades ago to remove from the United States alien terrorists who never should have been here in the first place,” said Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche. “The allegations in this case show the matriarch of an ISIS-sympathizing family aiding in a plot to launch a mass casualty attack on American voters on Election Day. The Department’s application in this court makes clear that terrorists have no place in the United States of America.” “This is a historic step asking this court for the first time to remove an individual from the United States who supported a plot by ISIS-sympathizing family members to commit an act of terrorism in America,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “No one should be allowed to come into our country and then betray it. The FBI and our Justice Department partners will not hesitate to use all available resources to protect the American people.” “The ATRC embodies the recognition that the government should not have to choose between allowing a dangerous alien to remain in the United States and disclosing sensitive classified information in a traditional removal proceeding,” said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg. “We will use all the tools at our disposal, including this court, to remove foreign nationals who betray our values and exploit our goodwill by supporting ISIS and terrorist plots.” Tawhedi and Abdullah Haji Zada were arrested on Oct. 7, 2024, after purchasing the firearms and ammunition to be used in the Election Day attack from an undercover FBI employee. Nazira’s son Abdullah, who was 17 at the time of his arrest, entered his guilty plea as an adult and was sentenced to 15 years in prison. As part of the plea agreement, Abdullah stipulated to the entry of a judicial order of removal from the United States to Afghanistan following his term of incarceration. Abdullah acknowledged that the order of removal would terminate his lawful permanent resident status. Abdullah also waived his right to appeal the conviction except in limited circumstances or seek any form of appeal or relief from his removal and deportation, including but not limited to, seeking asylum. Tawhedi, 28, pled guilty on June 13, 2025 to two terrorism-related offenses: conspiring and attempting to provide material support and resources to the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS), a designated foreign terrorist organization, and receiving, attempting to receive, and conspiring to receive firearms and ammunition in furtherance of a federal crime of terrorism, and is awaiting sentencing. According to court documents, Tawhedi admitted that between June 2024 and October 2024, he conspired with at least one other individual to purchase two AK-47 rifles, 500 rounds of ammunition, and 10 magazines, with the intent to carry out a mass-casualty attack on or around Election Day, Nov. 5, 2024, on behalf of ISIS. According to a criminal complaint affidavit filed in the case, Tawhedi communicated with an ISIS facilitator about his plan to purchase firearms for use in the terror plot, including asking the individual whether 500 rounds of ammunition would be sufficient. According to the criminal complaint, to raise funds for their attack, in 2024, the family also started selling off their property, including furniture, computers, a mobile phone, and the family’s two vehicles. Nazia signed a contract to sell the family house. The family also purchased one-way airfare for Nazira to take the children (but not Abdullah and Tawhedi) to Kabul, Afghanistan shortly before the planned Election Day shooting. The ATRC is a specialized federal court, which Congress established in 1996. The court has jurisdiction to remove alien terrorists swiftly from the United States, when the government establishes by a preponderance of the evidence that an alien is a terrorist. See Title Eight, United States Code, Sections 1227(a)(4)(B), 1531(1), and 1534(g). The Court is comprised of U.S. federal district court judges confirmed to the judiciary pursuant to Article III of the United States Constitution, and are then appointed to the ATRC by the Chief Justice of the United States. See Title 8, United States Code, Sections 1531 to 1537. The court allows the government to use classified information, where disclosing that information to the public would pose risks to national security. The statutory provisions that establish the court provide paid counsel to the aliens if necessary and also permit either party to appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. This removal proceeding reflects the coordinated efforts of multiple federal agencies, including the Department of Justice’s National Security Division, the FBI, and the U.S. Marshals Service, as well as the Department of Homeland Security’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Hayden O’Byrne of the National Security Division is leading the litigation, with assistance from Deputy Chief Larry Schneider and Trial Attorneys Anna Donnell and Evan Schultz. For more information on the ATRC and to view court documents visit: https://www.atrc.uscourts.gov/


title: CEO and VA Employee Plead Guilty to Paying and Receiving Illegal Health Care Kickbacks and Bribes

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: Two Florida men pleaded guilty this week to conspiracy to pay and receive illegal health care kickbacks and bribes. According to court documents, Laurent Cassagnol, 43, and Heriberto Rivera, 43, both of Orlando, Florida, conspired to refer patients of the VA Community Care Program (VACCP) to Family Integrative Medicine of Orlando, LLC (FIMO) for acupuncture, chiropractic adjustments, and other holistic medical services. Rivera, the CEO of FIMO, admitted to paying kickbacks and bribes to Cassagnol, an Advanced Medical Support Assistant for VACCP, in exchange for Cassagnol steering VA patients to FIMO for medical services. Cassagnol admitted to accepting Rivera’s payments. As a result of the conspiracy, the VA and VACCP was billed for over $14 million in claims that were procured through the payment of kickbacks and bribes, of which over $11 million was paid. The investigation was the result of a complaint made to the VA Office of the Inspector General (VA-OIG) fraud hotline. Cassagnol and Rivera both pleaded guilty to conspiracy to pay and receive kickbacks and bribes. Cassagnol and Rivera are scheduled to be sentenced on Nov. 5. Each defendant faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald of the Justice Department’s National Fraud Enforcement Division; Special Agent in Charge Rodney E. Crawford of the FBI Tampa Field Office; and Acting Special Agent in Charge Greg Wentz of the VA-OIG Southeast Field Office made the announcement. FBI and VA-OIG are investigating the case. Trial Attorneys Angela Benoit and Jody King of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section are prosecuting the case. On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the Fraud Division. The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs. The Department of Justice’s Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program, currently comprised of nine strike forces operating in federal districts across the country, has charged more than 6,200 defendants who collectively billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $45 billion since 2007. In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with the Office of the Inspector General for the Department of Health and Human Services, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit .


title: Auto Dealership to Pay $137,000 for Mishandling Servicemembers’ Vehicle Leases

component: Civil Rights Division

body_text: The Justice Department today announced that Holmes Motors Inc., a “lease here, pay here” dealership with locations in Mississippi, Alabama, and Georgia, has agreed to pay over $137,000 to resolve allegations that it violated the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) by illegally repossessing vehicles owned by servicemembers and failing to refund security deposits and prepaid lease amounts to servicemembers who terminated their vehicle leases due to military orders. “The Servicemember Civil Relief Act provides certain rights and protections to the members of our Armed Forces. These protections are designed to lessen the legal and economic burdens of military service and enable our warfighters to focus on the defense of our Nation,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The Department of Justice will not waver in its commitment to enforcing these rights.” “As someone with 30 years of military service, enforcing the law to protect servicemembers’ rights is of the highest priority to me and to my office,” said U.S. Attorney Phillip W. Williams Jr. for the Northern District of Alabama. “The law is clear that when servicemembers are on active duty, they should not have to worry their car will be repossessed while they serve their county. I am very proud of this settlement, which ensures that companies understand that this law is not optional and servicemembers’ rights will be protected in this district.” The Department alleges that Holmes Motors illegally repossessed three vehicles leased by SCRA-protected servicemembers without obtaining court orders. In at least one case, Holmes Motors repossessed a vehicle even after the servicemember gave the company a copy of her military orders requiring her to deploy in support of operations at the southern border. The Department also alleges that Holmes Motors violated the SCRA when it failed to refund security deposits and prepaid lease amounts when servicemembers terminated five vehicle leases early after receiving qualifying military orders. Under the settlement, Holmes Motors will pay $77,348 in compensation to the affected servicemembers. The company will also pay a $60,000 civil penalty and will be required to make policy and training changes to avoid committing future violations. Since 2011, the Department has obtained over $489 million in monetary relief for over 152,000 servicemembers through its enforcement of the SCRA. For more information about the Department’s SCRA enforcement efforts, please visit www.servicemembers.gov . Servicemembers and their dependents who believe that their rights under the SCRA may have been violated should contact the nearest Armed Forces Legal Assistance Program Office. Office locations can be found at legalassistance.law.af.mil .


title: Key Pierce County drug distributor tied to investigation of white prison gangs, sentenced to eleven years in prison in Homeland Security Task Force Investigation

component: USAO - Washington, Western

body_text: Tacoma – A 44-year-old Puyallup resident was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Tacoma for his role as a significant distributor of narcotics for a Drug Trafficking Organization tied to white prison gangs, announced First Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Neil Floyd. In February 2026, Daniel Hammond was convicted at trial of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances. At today’s sentencing hearing Chief U.S. District Judge David G. Estudillo sentenced Hammond to 11 years in prison saying, “These substances have wreaked havoc in our communities…. We are not dealing with someone who is just an addict who committed a petty crime, this was not just a one-time decision… the history shows you had a lifestyle living off of this type of conduct.” “Mr. Hammond had the ability to order up multi-pound quantities of methamphetamine and thousands of fentanyl pills that he then sold throughout the Tacoma area,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Neil Floyd. “Even after his arrest in this case, Hammond reached out to a drug supplier in Mexico seeking to do more deals while he was on pretrial release. This lengthy sentence is needed to stop his distribution of potentially deadly narcotics in our community.” In March 2023, the FBI and Drug Enforcement Administration began a two-year, multi-agency investigation into drug trafficking by members and associates of two predominantly white prison gangs: the Aryan Family and Omerta. These gangs, as well as associates outside of prison, were involved in drug trafficking and money laundering, including the distribution of multi-pound quantities of methamphetamine, fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine throughout Western Washington and other states. Over the course of the investigation, agents seized an estimated 223 pounds of methamphetamine, an estimated 830,000 fentanyl pills, multiple-pound quantities of fentanyl powder, cocaine, heroin, and marijuana, $338,000 of suspected drug proceeds, and 48 firearms from members of the conspiracy. In addition, during the coordinated arrests of the DTO members in March 2023, law enforcement seized approximately 22 pounds of methamphetamine, 26 pounds of fentanyl in pill and powder form, six pounds of heroin, more than $330,000 of suspected drug proceeds, and 177 additional firearms. “Mr. Hammond played a key role in a widespread and lethal conspiracy to traffic vast amounts of dangerous drugs into Washington state, personally redistributing multiple pounds of methamphetamine and thousands of fentanyl pills on a weekly basis. Even after his arrest, Mr. Hammond demonstrated a complete lack of regard for the consequences and human toll of his actions, continuing to seek profit at every opportunity by flooding our streets with poison,” said W. Mike Herrington, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Seattle field office. “Alongside our partners, the FBI will continue to seek out every avenue to protect our communities from toxic illicit substances and those who traffic in them.” The investigation identified three branches of the gangs involved in drug trafficking. Hammond was a key associate of Yehoshua Kilp – a leader of one of the three branches. A year ago, Kilp was sentenced to 14 years in prison. In asking for a 188-month prison sentence, prosecutors noted the deadly and devastating impact of the drugs Hammond spread in our community, writing to the court: “Hammond conspired to flood Western Washington with massive quantities of methamphetamine and fentanyl pills. These drugs have a devastating impact on the community. Users of these drugs frequently resort to stealing—from family members, friends, and complete strangers—to feed their addictions. No doubt, drug users are responsible for a large percentage of these crimes, as well as the violent crimes, in our communities. More importantly, these drugs destroy the lives of those who use them, and the lives of the users’ families and friends. Those families and friends are prisoners, forced to watch the toll these drugs take on their sons, daughters, parents, or friends.” “Daniel Hammond helped fuel a criminal enterprise that flooded our communities with methamphetamine and fentanyl while enriching a violent prison gang,” said Robert A. Saccone, Special Agent in Charge, DEA Seattle Field Division. “DEA and our law enforcement partners are relentlessly disrupting the criminal organizations responsible for trafficking deadly drugs into our communities and holding those who profit from addiction accountable. Every trafficker brought to justice and every pound of drugs seized moves us closer to a Fentanyl Free America.” This investigation is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Seattle comprises agents and officers from Homeland Security Investigations, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), The United States Marshals Service (USMS), the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigations (IRS-CI), the United States Secret Service (USSS), U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and the U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Washington. This investigation was led by the FBI with critical investigative teamwork from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Washington State Department of Corrections and significant local assistance from the Tacoma Police Department, Pierce County Sheriff’s Office, and the Thurston County Narcotics Task Force, led by the Thurston County Sheriff’s Office. Throughout this investigation the following agencies assisted the primary investigators: Washington State Patrol, Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine, Lewis County Sheriff’s Office, Lakewood Police Department, and U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS). The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Zach Dillon, Max Shiner, and Jehiel Baer.


title: Colombian resident sentenced to prison for conspiring to ship loads of cocaine to Seattle and other U.S. destinations

body_text: Seattle – A 65-year-old national of the Dominican Republic, who was arrested in Colombia and extradited to the U.S., was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Seattle to 96 months in prison for conspiracy to import cocaine and conspiracy to launder money, announced First Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Neil Floyd. Jose Manuel Frias Lopez was arrested in June 2024 and was extradited to the U.S. in August 2025. Frias Lopez pleaded guilty in April 2026. At today’s sentencing hearing U.S. District Judge Lauren King noted Frias Lopez criminal history saying, he had been “in a revolving door with the justice system in this country.” “This defendant was at the center of the criminal organization in this case, importing cocaine to the streets of Seattle and other parts of the U.S.,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Neil Floyd. “The undercover meetings sound like something out of a novel, but they capture the real interactions of sophisticated drug traffickers who seek to profit by feeding addiction. Even at an advanced age, with prior U.S. prison stints, Mr. Frias Lopez could not resist the lure of what he apparently saw as easy money.” This case arose out of a joint investigation by the DEA and the Seattle Police Department (SPD). These agencies, together with other state, federal, and international law enforcement partners, conducted a multi-year investigation into a Drug Trafficking Organization (DTO) that imported―from Mexico into the United States―fentanyl, cocaine, methamphetamine, and heroin. The investigation ultimately led to Colombia, where investigators purchased cocaine directly from the source. According to records filed in the case, the investigation into DTO members in Colombia began in April 2023 and ran until January 2024. Investigators used confidential sources and undercover agents to identify Jose Manuel Frias Lopez as a cocaine source of supply. Undercover agents from both U.S. and Colombian law enforcement then met with Frias Lopez and his associates in Colombia. Frias Lopez sourced cocaine for delivery to the U.S. and laundered funds that the undercovers paid for cocaine. Frias Lopez talked about other aspects of his criminal scheme such as transporting cocaine to Florida or to Spain. Frias Lopez has a lengthy criminal history in the U.S. with convictions in Oklahoma for drug trafficking, concealing stolen property, and DUI. In 2004 he was sentenced to more than 13 years in prison for trafficking methamphetamine while possessing a firearm. He was released and removed from the U.S. in 2014. In asking for a 96-month prison sentence, prosecutors noted that cocaine is increasingly tied to overdose deaths in our community, “(D)rug overdoses resulted in 914 deaths in King County in 2025. Through the first six-plus months of 2026, there have been 394 confirmed overdose deaths, with another 44 probable overdose deaths. Moreover, and although fentanyl gets the lion’s share of attention with respect to overdose deaths—and rightly so―cocaine was the third most common drug involved in King County overdose deaths in 2025. Specifically, cocaine was involved in 218 (24%) overdose deaths in King County in 2025―often in combination with fentanyl or methamphetamine.” “Drug traffickers cannot hide behind international borders,” said Robert A. Saccone, Special Agent in Charge, DEA Seattle Field Division. “DEA is committed to identifying, investigating, and pursuing those responsible for poisoning our communities, wherever they operate. Working alongside our domestic and international law enforcement partners, we will go to the source country to locate these offenders, bring them to the United States, and ensure they face accountability in U.S. courts. This relentless pursuit is a cornerstone of DEA’s Fentanyl Free America, which is focused on disrupting the fentanyl supply chain, reducing the availability of these deadly drugs, and saving American lives.” This investigation is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Seattle comprises agents and officers from Homeland Security Investigations, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), The United States Marshals Service (USMS), the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigations (IRS-CI), the United States Secret Service (USSS), U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and the U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Washington. The investigation was led by the DEA and Seattle Police Department. Additional assistance was provided by Renton Police Department, Centralia Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Department of Housing and Urban Development Office of the Inspector General (HUD OIG), Washington State Patrol, Pierce County and Valley SWAT teams. The Colombian National Police (CNP) and Colombian Prosecutor’s Office (Fiscalia General) partnered with U.S. law enforcement on this investigation. The Justice Department’s Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section’s Office of the Judicial Attaché in Bogotá provided critical assistance. The cases from this investigation are being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Joe Silvio and C. Andrew Colasurdo in the Western District of Washington.


title: Bellevue man sentenced to 18 months in prison for operating multi-million dollar fencing operation that encouraged retail theft

body_text: Seattle – A 59-year-old Bellevue, Washington and Las Vegas, man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Seattle to 18 months in prison for his role in a scheme to sell stolen goods on Amazon and eBay, announced First Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Neil Floyd. Andrey A. Balun pleaded guilty in December 2025, to conspiracy to transport stolen property in interstate commerce. Balun and his co-defendant, Vitaliy F. Bobak, 53, of Federal Way, Washington, jointly owned MBA Trading LLC which did business at a Burien, Washington storefront operating as “We Buy Gold, Silver, and Electronics.” An extensive law enforcement investigation revealed that the storefront knowingly purchased goods that had been stolen from area retailers. The pair then sold the goods on Amazon or eBay for millions of dollars in profit. At the sentencing hearing U.S. District Judge Tana Lin told Balun the prison sentence would have been longer but for his health conditions and concern they could not be managed by the Bureau of Prisons. “You were the driving force behind this operation, and you continued for years even after you were told what you were doing was illegal,” Judge Lin said. “Acting as a ‘fence’ for stolen goods helps organized retail theft flourish, and that harms our community in multiple ways,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Neil Floyd. “First retailers say theft brings violence against their employees; second, stores close because of theft problems and workers lose their jobs; third businesses raise prices to cope with the theft losses and that hits all of us in the wallet; and lastly, no taxes are paid on goods stolen from stores – Washington estimates it lost $600 million due to organized retail theft in 2021 alone.” According to records filed in the case, Balun co-owned the business since 2018. Balun trained Bobak on how to operate the business. Balun admits that the business purchased stolen goods from individual sellers knowing that the goods were stolen. The business bought primarily over the counter medications and health and beauty products. In many instances the goods still had anti-theft devices attached, or stickers saying “for sale only” at a particular retailer. The men bought the goods far below the retail price and then posted them for sale on two websites they operated on Amazon and eBay. The Amazon store was called “Medikus” and the eBay store was called “abcstore555.” Money from the online stores was traced to the men’s bank accounts. The funds were then used by the men to operate the scheme by paying cash to the “boosters” (people who stole the goods) and payroll to employees who were involved in posting and shipping the goods for sale. The remainder of the proceeds were funneled to the men who then withdrew money to pay themselves and for various personal expenses. Balun obtained proceeds of at least $1 million in the final years of the scheme alone. Investigators traced some of that money to his purchase of a home in Las Vegas. The amount of stolen property in this case is staggering. At the time the warrant was executed in December 2023, Balun and Bobak possessed more than 74,000 items of stolen property waiting to be sold or shipped – worth approximately $2.4 million. That is in addition to the $4.5 million in sales between 2021 and the middle 2023, and an unknown sum pre-2021. Most of these items were over the counter medication and health and beauty products, stolen from retailers such as Fred Meyer and CVS. By any conservative estimate, Balun and his partners purchased and resold hundreds of thousands of stolen items. In asking for a 4-year prison sentence, prosecutors wrote to the court. “Balun’s conduct was also audacious. As early as 2019, law enforcement advised him that stolen merchandise was passing through his online store. Yet rather than cleaning up his act, Balun trained Bobak to join him in the scheme. A couple years later, he directed Bobak on how to respond to a retailer complaint that the Amazon store was not authorized to sell their products. In short, he acted with impunity for years.” In his plea agreement Balun agreed to forfeit $1,000,000 to the government as part of the resolution of his case. Bobak was sentenced earlier this year to 11 months in prison. The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), with significant assistance from the Renton Police Department, Seattle Police Department, and the IRS, and aided by investigators from numerous retailers. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sean H. Waite and Asset Forfeiture Assistant United States Attorney Krista Bush.


title: Convicted Felon Sentenced to 6.5 Years in Prison for Possessing a Firearm with a Machinegun Conversion Device

component: USAO - Tennessee, Western

body_text: Memphis, TN – A federal judge has sentenced Jordan Jones, 31 , to 78 months in prison for being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm equipped with a machinegun conversion device (MCD). D. Michael Dunavant, United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the sentence today. On October 4, 2025, Tennessee Highway Patrol troopers pursued Jones, driving a stolen white Honda Accord, after he had run a stop light. They pursued him for several minutes before Jones struck another vehicle and then ran from the vehicle. One of the troopers saw a gun in Jones’s waistband. The trooper then pursued Jones on foot as he attempted to flee through a nearby residential yard. Troopers quickly apprehended Jones and recovered a Glock pistol equipped with a machinegun conversion device along the path where Jones fled. A second firearm was later located inside the vehicle Jones had been driving. On July 23, 2026, United States District Court Judge Thomas L. Parker sentenced Jones to 78 months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system. U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said, “A firearm equipped with an MCD is an extremely dangerous weapon that can cause multiple injuries or fatalities in less than one second. When possessed by a fleeing felon recklessly driving a stolen vehicle, it demonstrates an unacceptable risk to public safety that justifies a significant prison sentence to remove this dangerous recidivist from our community.” Special Agent in Charge Jamey VanVliet of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Nashville Field Office said, "This previously convicted felon was in possession of a stolen vehicle, illegally possessed a firearm with a machine gun conversion device, and led the police on a high-speed chase. The ATF will continue to work in lockstep with our law enforcement partners to remove individuals such as this who threaten public safety in our communities." This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) and the Tennessee Highway Patrol (THP) as part of the Memphis Safe Task Force. Assistant United States Attorney Lynn Crum and Special Assistant United States Attorney Yosef Hochheiser, of the United States Air Force Judge Advocate General's (JAG) Corps, prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. ### For more information, please contact the media relations team at USATNW.Media@usdoj.gov . Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office on Facebook or on X at @WDTNNews for office news and updates.


title: Federal jury convicts New Jersey man of terrorism offenses relating to  his attempted murder of Salman Rushdie

component: USAO - New York, Western

body_text: BUFFALO, NY — A federal jury has convicted Hadi Matar, 28, of Fairview, New Jersey, of attempting to provide material support to Hizbollah, a designated foreign terrorist organization, engaging in an act of terrorism transcending national boundaries, and providing material support to terrorists. “Hadi Matar, who was born and raised in the United States, chose to align his values with the terroristic values of the leaders of Iran, which often promote violence, and in this case, the call for murder,” said U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo for the Western District of New York. “The defendant spent months planning and preparing to carry out what he hoped would be the execution of Salman Rushdie and possibly follow in the footsteps of martyrs he admired. Instead, his attempted act of terror failed, and Salman Rushdie survived, thanks to courageous members of the public and law enforcement, who saved Rushdie and captured Matar.” “Matar spent more than a year immersing himself in Hizballah’s violent ideology and preparing to act on a fatwa issued by Iran’s Ayatollahs calling for Mr. Rushdie’s murder,” said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg. “His brutal attack on Mr. Rushdie during a peaceful speaking event is a chilling reminder of the global reach of Iranian terrorism. With today’s verdict, justice has been done, and Matar will pay for his crimes.” “Today's guilty verdict reaffirms that acts of terrorism will not prevail over the freedoms our nation was built to protect,” said Allen D. Davis II, Special Agent-in-Charge of the FBI’s Buffalo Field Office. “By attempting to silence free expression through terrorism, the defendant attacked not only an individual, but a U.S. Constitutional right. FBI Buffalo's Joint Terrorism Task Force remains unwavering in our commitment to countering terrorism, violent extremism, and ensuring those who threaten our communities are held accountable.” On Aug. 12, 2022, Matar attempted to murder author Salman Rushdie in an effort to carry out a fatwa calling for Rushdie’s execution because of a novel published by Rushdie in 1988. That fatwa was issued in 1989 by the Supreme Leader of Iran, Ruhollah Khomeini; reaffirmed in 2017 by the Supreme Leader of Iran, Ali Khamenei; and endorsed in a 2006 speech by Hizballah’s Secretary General, Hassan Nasrallah. According to evidence presentenced by the government, Matar spent over a year researching the fatwa, including its continuing validity, before deciding to carry it out while Rushdie spoke at the Chautauqua Institution in Mayville, NY. Prior to the attack, Matar discussed the fatwa — and Hizballah’s endorsement of the fatwa — with individuals located in Iran, Australia, and Canada. He also created videos about the fatwa, with titles such as “Rushdie_Fatwa 2.0” and “Rushdie_Fatwa 1.6,” which combined videos about the fatwa with video of Hassan Nasrallah endorsing the fatwa in 2006. Matar surrounded himself with symbols of Hizballah martyrs before the attack. He traveled to the Chautauqua Institution using the name “Hassan Mughniyeh,” and carried a false driver’s license bearing the same name. Matar’s false name contained the first name of Hassan Nasrallah, Hizballah’s Secretary General, and the last name of Imad Mughniyeh, the former head of Hizballah’s External Security Organization, who was responsible for planning a number of Hizballah’s terrorist attacks. On the morning of the attack, Matar visited a website run by Hizballah and took screenshots of Hizballah martyrs who had died in the month of August. Matar faces a maximum penalty of life in prison when sentenced on November 3, 2026, at 11:30 a.m. before U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara, who presided over the trial. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Timothy C. Lynch and Charles M. Kruly for the Western District of New York and Trial Attorney Jennifer Burke of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section prosecuted the case. The case was investigated by the Buffalo Office of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Allen D. Davis, II, and the New York State Police, under the direction of Major Amie Feroleto. Additional assistance was provided by the Newark, NJ, office of the FBI and the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office. # # # #


title: Prairie Village, Kansas Woman Pleads Guilty to Social Security Benefits Fraud

component: USAO - Missouri, Western

body_text: KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Prairie Village, Kan., woman pleaded guilty in federal court today for defrauding the Social Security Administration. Gloria Burggraf, 70, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge D. Greg Kays to one count of theft of government money. According to the plea agreement, Burggraf’s former husband passed away in March of 2021 while he was receiving Social Security Administration (“SSA”) retirement benefits. At the time, Burggraf was also receiving her own SSA retirement benefits in the same joint account. Burggraf was aware of her obligation to report that she was receiving her late husband’s benefits in error, failed to do so and continued to collect nearly $95,000 over a four-year period. This successful prosecution is one of many federal fraud cases pursued under the leadership of President Donald Trump and through the establishment of the Task Force to Eliminate Fraud. Under federal statutes, Burggraf is subject to a sentence of up to 10 years in federal prison without parole. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office. This case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Amanda K. Hanson. It was investigated by the Social Security Office of the Inspector General. National Fraud Enforcement Division On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (“Fraud Division”). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.


title: Independence, Mo. Man Connected to Nihilistic Violent Extremist (NVE) Group Charged with Sexual Exploitation of Minors

body_text: KANSAS CITY, Mo. – An Independence, Mo., man has been charged by criminal complaint with receipt of child pornography over the internet and possession of child pornography. According to court documents, Jordan A. Porter, 23, has been connected to Nihilistic Violent Extremist (NVE) groups similar to the group “764.” Porter has an extensive history of engaging in criminal conduct related to the exploitation of minors, including conduct related to NVEs. NVEs consist of individuals who engage in criminal conduct within the United States and abroad, in furtherance of political, social, or religious goals that derive primarily from a hatred of society at large and a desire to bring about its collapse by sowing indiscriminate chaos, destruction, and social instability. The investigation by Homeland Security Investigations into Porter’s conduct revealed that on multiple occasions, Porter received Child Sexual Abuse Material (“CSAM”) on a social media application. The communications and content shared by members in the social media group are consistent with NVEs. NVEs, both individually and as a network, systematically and methodically target vulnerable populations, which often include minors, across the United States and the globe, frequently using social media communication platforms. NVEs frequently conduct coordinated extortions of individuals by blackmailing them so they comply with the demands of the network. These demands vary and include, but are not limited to, self-mutilation, online and in-person sexual acts, harm to animals, sexual exploitation of siblings and others, acts of violence, threats of violence, suicide, and murder. NVE networks have adopted various monikers to identify themselves. The networks have changed names over time, which has led to the creation of related networks. Although the networks change names and use a variety of different social media platforms, the core members and goals remain consistent and align with the overarching threat of NVE. “764” and related groups (“764”) are NVEs who engage in criminal conduct within the United States and engage with other extremists abroad. The 764 network’s accelerationist goals include social unrest and the downfall of the current world order, including the United States Government. Members of 764 work in concert with one another towards a common purpose of destroying civilized society through the corruption and exploitation of vulnerable populations, including minors. Assistant U.S. Attorney Maureen A. Brackett, Assistant U.S. Attorney Trey Alford, and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon Chlarson are prosecuting the case. This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations. The charges contained in this complaint are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence. Project Safe Childhood This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by 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 and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc . For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab "resources."