title: Illinois Woman Sentenced to Prison for Role in Wire Fraud Conspiracy

body_text: An Illinois woman was sentenced this week to 27 months in prison for her role in a conspiracy to fraudulently obtain tax refunds by submitting false tax returns and fictitious financial instruments to the IRS. “Monika Skinger engaged in a wide-ranging tax fraud scheme that flooded the IRS with fictitious financial instruments, including fraudulent checks,” said Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald of the Justice Department’s National Fraud Enforcement Division. “Skinger attempted to take millions in refunds she had no right to receive. As we did in this case, the Department of Justice will continue to unmask fraudulent actors and swiftly bring them to justice.” According to court documents and statements made in court, Monika Skinger conspired with others to submit false individual and trust tax returns that claimed millions in refunds they were not entitled to receive. To induce the IRS to accept the false refund claims, Skinger personally submitted at least 16 fictitious financial instruments — such as checks, money orders, and payment vouchers — on behalf of herself and others. She also filed at least four false individual income tax returns for herself and at least two false trust tax returns. In total, Skinger sought $4.6 million in refunds from the IRS and received more than $1.2 million in fraudulent proceeds. Skinger pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. In addition to the term of imprisonment, U.S. District Court Judge Amanda Brailsford for the District of Idaho ordered Skinger to serve three years of supervised release and pay $303,672.44 in restitution to the United States. Assistant Attorney General Colin McDonald of the Justice Department’s National Fraud Enforcement Division and U.S. Attorney Bart Davis for the District of Idaho made the announcement. IRS Criminal Investigation is investigating the case. Trial Attorney David F. Scollan of the National Fraud Enforcement Division’s Tax Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Brittney Campbell for the District of Idaho are prosecuting the case. On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (Fraud Division). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste and abuse within Federal benefit programs.


title: Department of Justice Removes Alien Terrorist in First Use of United States Alien Terrorist Removal Court

component: Office of the Attorney General

body_text: In the first-ever case before the United States Alien Terrorist Removal Court (ATRC), Nazira Haji Zada, 47, an Afghan national previously residing in Fort Worth, Texas, was removed from the United States after conceding that she is an alien terrorist. As the matriarch in her family, she supported 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 ATRC issued an order of removal on Aug. 20 that was unsealed earlier today following her return to her country of origin. This was the first case ever brought before the ATRC, which Congress established decades ago, and which no previous administration had used. Zada is now permanently inadmissible to the United States. The application to remove Zada, certified by Attorney General Todd Blanche, was filed on July 15, and Zada appeared in open court for the first time on July 30. ATRC Chief Judge Joan N. Ericksen presided over that hearing and later signed the removal order. In compliance with the ATRC statute, the government used classified information to establish that Zada is an alien terrorist. Additionally, the government provided Zada and her lawyers, two federal public defenders, with approximately half a terabyte of documents supporting the government’s case. With her lawyers, Zada conceded that she is an alien terrorist and waived appeal of the removal order, terminating her previous status. “This landmark case, resulting in the prompt removal of this alien terrorist to her country of origin, is a win for national security and the rule of law,” said Attorney General Todd Blanche. “Those who support and condone terrorism should not be living in the United States, and this first-ever case before the ATRC shows how the Department will use every tool at its disposal to protect our country.” “This is a historic and vitally important step in our work to protect the U.S. homeland from terrorism,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “An individual who supported a plot by ISIS-sympathizing family members to commit an attack in America has paid the price for that. She came to our country, betrayed it, and has now lost the right to live here and enjoy our democratic freedoms. This FBI and our Justice Department partners will protect the American people from the threat of terrorism, using all means necessary.” “From the moment President Trump took office, he made clear that his Administration would put the safety and security of the American people first,” said Secretary Markwayne Mullin of the Department of Homeland Security. “The President’s direction to use the Alien Terrorist Removal Court to expel Nazira Haji Zada, an Afghan national who plotted with members of her family to carry out an ISIS-inspired attack on American soil, delivers on that promise. Thanks to the President’s leadership and the coordinated efforts the Departments of Homeland Security, Justice and State, Nazira Haji Zada’s final order of removal is now FINAL. Those who plot acts of terrorism against the United States have no place in our country. We will find them, and we will use every lawful tool available to remove them.” “Zada supported her sons’ terrorist plot to attack the United States while she enjoyed the privilege of residing here as a resident alien,” said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg. “She abused our Nation’s hospitality and represented a clear threat to our national security. The United States is a safer place now that her sons are in custody and she has been deported.” “Those who support terrorism against the American people will face the consequences,” said State Department Spokesman Tommy Pigott. “We will secure our borders, and we will use every tool to stop those who intend us harm from entering or remaining at-large in our country. Under the leadership of President Trump, the State Department, alongside the Departments of Justice and Homeland Security, will always work tirelessly to ensure the safety of our people and the security of our nation.” Tawhedi and Abdullah Haji Zada were arrested on Oct. 7, 2024, after purchasing firearms and ammunition to be used in an Election Day terrorist 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, and 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 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 on June 13, 2025, 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 started selling off their property, including furniture, computers, a mobile phone, and the family’s two vehicles. Zada signed a contract to sell the family house. The family also purchased one-way airfare for travel to Kabul, Afghanistan shortly before Election Day 2024 for its members, including for Zada and other minor children but not Abdullah and Tawhedi. The ATRC is a specialized federal court, which Congress established in 1996. The court has jurisdiction to swiftly remove alien terrorists from the United States when the government establishes by a preponderance of the evidence that an alien is a terrorist. See Title 8 of the United States Code, Sections 1227(a)(4)(B), 1531(1), and 1534(g). It is run and staffed by U.S. federal district court judges confirmed to the judiciary pursuant to Article III of the Constitution and then appointed to the ATRC by the Chief Justice of the United States. See Title 8 of the 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 United States 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 Homeland Security Investigations and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Hayden O’Byrne of the National Security Division led the litigation with assistance from Deputy Chief Larry Schneider and Trial Attorneys Anna Donnell, Garrett Coyle and Evan Schultz. For more information on the ATRC and to view court documents visit: www.atrc.uscourts.gov/ . The Department of Justice previously announced the arrest here: www.justice.gov/opa/pr/department-justice-files-first-case-us-alien-terrorist-removal-court-deport-afghan-alien-who


title: California Man Sentenced to Over 12 Years in Prison for Distributing Sadistic Child Sexual Abuse Material Over the Dark Web

component: Criminal Division

body_text: James David Johnson, 58, of Santee, California, was sentenced today to 151 months in prison and 10 years of supervised release for distributing images and videos over the dark web that depicted the sexual abuse of children. Johnson pleaded guilty to distributing child pornography on Oct. 14, 2025. According to court documents, Johnson was a member of at least five dark web communities dedicated to child sexual abuse material (CSAM) and the sexual exploitation of children. He distributed large volumes of CSAM on these websites and provided other users with advice on how to evade law enforcement. On one of these websites, which was in part dedicated to content depicting children being subject to pain and suffering, he rose through the ranks to become a high-ranking staff member. FBI agents executed search warrants at Johnson’s home and place of work and seized computer devices containing more than 260,000 images and videos of apparent child sexual abuse and exploitation, as well as autopsy and crime-scene photos depicting deceased children. Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney Adam Gordon for the Southern District of California; Special Agent in Charge Mark Remily of the FBI’s San Diego Field Office; and Assistant Director Heith Janke of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division made the announcement. The FBI’s San Diego Field Office and Child Exploitation Operational Section investigated the case. Acting Deputy Chief Kyle P. Reynolds of the Justice Department’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) and Assistant U.S. Attorney Amanda Griffith for the Southern District of California prosecuted the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Justice Department. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc .


title: Brooklyn Adult Daycare Owner Sentenced to Prison for Leadership Role in $64M Medicaid Fraud Scheme

component: National Fraud Enforcement Division

body_text: A Brooklyn woman was sentenced yesterday to 76 months in prison in connection with her leadership of a vast $64 million Medicaid fraud and illegal kickback scheme at her two social adult daycare centers and home health care company. The defendant was also ordered to pay over $56 million in restitution and to forfeit $5 million in fraud proceeds, including two properties, cash, and gold jewelry seized during a search of her home, as pictured below. Photograph of cash seized when a search warrant was executed on Zakia Khan’s home. Photograph of cash seized when a search warrant was executed on Zakia Khan’s home. Photograph of jewelry seized when a search warrant was executed on Zakia Khan’s home. “The Fraud Division will relentlessly hold accountable individuals who exploit Medicaid and take advantage of services meant to support our seniors,” said Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald of the Justice Department’s National Fraud Enforcement Division. “This sentence should put all Medicaid fraudsters on notice — if you steal from Medicaid, we will uncover your conduct, protect the beneficiaries you harm, and ensure you are brought to justice.” “Yesterday’s sentencing sends a strong message of deterrence in our District,” said U.S. Attorney Joseph Nocella Jr. for the Eastern District of New York. “Our Office and the Justice Department are focused on protecting American taxpayers from fraudsters and as such, we will vigorously prosecute corrupt health care owners and operators in our district.” “Social adult day care and home health services are designed to support seniors, not line the pockets of fraudsters,” said Acting Deputy Inspector General for Investigations Miranda L. Bennett of the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “Today’s sentence sends an important message that anyone who illicitly exploits the Medicaid program will be held accountable to the full extent of the law.” “Khan acted with staggering greed, leading a scheme to defraud Medicaid of millions of dollars intended for people in need. She and her co-conspirators set up social adult day cares but, instead of providing care and services to our most vulnerable neighbors, they enriched themselves with cash, gold and property,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Pete Gizas of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) New York. “Today’s sentence sends a message: we will be relentless in our pursuit of justice against fraudsters. HSI is working side by side with our law enforcement partners to uncover and dismantle complex fraud networks like this one.” “Zakia Khan stole $64 million from the Medicaid program through bribes and kickbacks—money meant to support the most vulnerable,” stated NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch. “This was not only deeply illegal but also immoral, and the NYPC will continue to investigate anyone who exploits government programs for personal gain. I thank our NYPD investigators and all our partners in law enforcement for their work in stopping this criminal and bringing this case to a close.” According to court documents, Zakia Khan, 55, of Brooklyn, New York, owned two social adult daycare centers—Happy Family Social Adult Day Care Center Inc. (Happy Family) and Family Social Adult Day Care Center Inc. (Family Social). She also owned a home health care fiscal intermediary called Responsible Care Staffing Inc. and an entity she used to receive and disguise fraud proceeds called Tanwee Services Inc. From approximately October 2017 through July 2024, in exchange for kickbacks and bribes, a web of marketers referred Medicaid recipients to Khan’s social adult daycare centers. As depicted in the pictures below, Khan and the marketers paid kickbacks and bribes to the Medicaid recipients to induce them to sign up for services that Khan then billed to Medicaid. These services were never actually provided as represented to Medicaid. Between 2017 and 2024, Happy Family and Family Social fraudulently billed Medicaid approximately $64 million. Medicaid paid approximately $56 million based on these false and fraudulent claims. Khan and her co-conspirators used multiple business entities to launder the fraud proceeds and generate the cash used to pay kickbacks and bribes to the marketers and the Medicaid recipients. Zakia Khan on an undercover recording paying illegal kickbacks inside her office at Happy Family. Medicaid recipients receiving illegal cash kickbacks in exchange for filling out false attendance sheets for Zakia Khan’s social adult daycare centers. Medicaid recipients receiving illegal cash kickbacks in exchange for filling out false attendance sheets for Zakia Khan’s social adult daycare centers. In August 2025, Khan pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit health care fraud and conspiracy to defraud the United States and pay health care kickbacks. HHS-OIG, HSI New York, and NYPD investigated the case. Deputy Chief Patrick J. Campbell and Trial Attorney Leonid Sandlar of the National Fraud Enforcement Division’s Health Care Fraud Section prosecuted the case, with the assistance of Assistant U.S. Attorney Claire Kedeshian for the Eastern District of New York who assisted with forfeiture matters. On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (Fraud Division). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs. The Department of Justice’s Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program, currently comprised of nine strike forces operating in federal districts across the country, has charged more than 6,200 defendants who collectively billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $45 billion since 2007. In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with the Office of the Inspector General for the Department of Health and Human Services, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit .


title: Bremerton, Washington couple sentenced to prison for wide-ranging ID theft and bank fraud crimes

component: USAO - Washington, Western

body_text: Seattle – Two Bremerton, Washington, women were sentenced this month for a long-running bank fraud scheme where they stole personal information of more than 250 people, announced First Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Neil Floyd. Emily Vranic, 34, was sentenced to three years in prison; her co-defendant, Heather Marquis, 37, was sentenced to 31 months. Both women were sentenced to three years of supervised release following their release from custody. The two were arrested on a federal complaint in April 2025. At the sentencing hearing for Vranic, U.S. District Judge Tiffany M. Cartwright noted that the pair engaged in what she described as a “multi-dimensional, deliberate effort to defraud many people in many different ways.” “These defendants attempted to steal at least $330,000 from their victims over a three-year period – ID theft and bank fraud was their ‘job’ and for at least 15 victims they were all too successful,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Neil Floyd. “Beyond the financial harm, these defendants stole important records: tax returns; social security cards; retirement account information; divorce filings; immunization paperwork; immigration records; and military records. And each document theft was an invasion of privacy causing harm to the victim.” “These two defendants made it their life’s work to lie, cheat, and defraud their very own community. Using every tool at their disposal to illicitly open accounts, redirect funds, and even paying their own mortgage while victims footed the bill.” said Inspector in Charge Anthony Galetti, “Financial crimes of this nature inflict severe, long-term damage, forcing victims down a protracted road to recovery. Beyond the immediate financial loss, victims face the exhausting burden of closing fraudulent accounts and correcting damaged credit scores. While financial institutions may eventually reimburse stolen funds, they cannot restore the extensive time and energy required to repair the broader collateral damage.” According to records filed in the case, from approximately 2021 until their arrests in November 2024, Vranic and Marquis defrauded victims and financial institutions in several different ways. Most often, they stole victims’ mail and used personal documents inside to activate credit cards, open new lines of credit, or gain wholesale access to online bank accounts. The pair would have documents related to their activities mailed to a third-party victim’s address, where they would intercept the mail again. Once they had fully taken over a stolen identity, statements and other records were mailed directly to their own Bremerton address. Armed with their victims’ identities, the pair ran up credit card debt, made transfers from victim accounts to their own, and even used victim accounts to make monthly mortgage payments on the home they shared. One vulnerable victim was targeted with over $110,000 in fraudulent transfers; but for the bank’s intervention, that number would have been in excess of $170,000. Even when banks interceded to protect their customers by freezing targeted accounts, Vranic and Marquis repeatedly posed as account holders to try to get the fraud alerts removed. In asking for a three-year sentence, Assistant United States Attorney Victoria Cantore noted that though both women suffered from drug addiction, that did not affect the complexity of their frauds. “This scheme nonetheless required an extraordinary amount of organization, planning, and executive functioning skills. Marquis and Vranic kept records of every individual, every account, every piece of personal information that would ensure their scheme’s success. The variety of methods the women employed to steal from their victims was nothing short of labyrinthine to unravel.” Marquis has agreed to a restitution obligation of $102,784 to the victims. Vranic will have a restitution hearing in October 2026 to determine the amount she owes. The case was investigated by the Bremerton Police Department, the Kitsap County Sheriff’s Office, and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS). The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Victoria Cantore.


title: Prior sex offender going to prison on new child pornography charge

component: USAO - New York, Western

body_text: BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Andrew Yannello, 30, of Tonawanda, NY, who was convicted of possession of child pornography following a prior conviction under New York law relating to sexual abuse, was sentenced to serve 14 years in prison and 35 years supervised release by U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo. In September 2014, Yannello was convicted of Attempted Sexual Abuse in the 1st Degree in New York State Court and sentenced to serve 10 years’ probation. In November 2017, following a probation violation, Yannello was sentenced to serve 1 1/3 to 3 years in prison. On August 23, 2024, investigators executed a search warrant at Yannello’s residence after it was discovered that he uploaded files of child pornography to Facebook and distributed the images to other Facebook users. During the search, a cell phone, laptop computer and desktop computer were seized, and all were found to contain images and videos of child pornography child pornography. Some of the images contained prepubescent minors as well as the sexual abuse of an infant or toddler, and depictions of violence. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron J. Mango. The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Allen D. Davis, II, the Town of Tonawanda Police Department, under the direction of Chief Corey Flatau, and the New York State Police, under the direction of Major Amie Feroleto. # # # #


title: Felon Sentenced to Prison for Illegally Possessing Multiple Firearms and Violating Supervised Release Terms for Prior Federal Drug Conviction

component: USAO - North Carolina, Western

body_text: CHARLOTTE, N.C. – An armed felon was sentenced to prison yesterday for possessing multiple firearms and for violating the terms of his supervised release stemming from a prior federal conviction, announced Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. Rex Allen Hawkins, 55, of Traphill, N.C. was ordered to serve 20 months in prison for the firearms offense, and an additional 12 months in prison for the supervised release violation, for a total active sentence of 32 months in prison. Hawkins was also ordered to serve three years of court supervision after he is released from prison. According to court records, Hawkins was sentenced to more than 10 years in prison for conspiracy to distribute, possess with intent to distribute, and to manufacture methamphetamine. As part of his sentence, he was ordered to serve a term of supervision upon completion of his prison sentence. Between 2021 and 2023, the court revoked Hawkins’s supervision twice for violating conditions of supervised release. According to court records, Hawkins began his most recent term of supervision in May 2024. According to court documents, in September 2024, U.S. Probation officers conducted a warrantless search of Hawkins’s residence in Traphill, N.C., pursuant to the standard conditions of the court-ordered supervision. During the search, probation officers found multiple firearms inside residence, including a Marlin, Model 25MN, .22 WMR bolt action rifle; a Rossi, Model S201220RS, Youth Matched Pair firearm with interchangeable .22LR barrel and 20-gauge shotgun barrel; a firearm lower receiver; and multiple live rounds of various calibers of ammunition. Probation officers also found hydrocodone pills, well as small amounts of fentanyl and methamphetamine in the residence. In February 2026, Hawkins pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm by a felon. He is in federal custody and will be transferred to the custody of the Federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation to a federal facility. This investigation was led by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the U.S. Probation Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert J. Gleason of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte prosecuted the case.


title: Former Morgan City Teacher Sentenced  to Five Years in Federal Prison for Sexually Enticing Student via Email

component: USAO - Louisiana, Western

body_text: LAFAYETTE – On September 9, 2026, United States District Judge Robert R. Summerhays sentenced Katherine Albarado , 32, of Morgan City, to 60 months in federal prison for attempted possession of child pornography. Albarado had previously pled guilty to the charge. “Predators—and especially people in positions of trust—who abuse our children have nowhere to hide in this District,” said U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Keller. “We urge parents to remain vigilant and aware of their children’s digital and online communications, and this Office, along with our state and federal partners, will continue to investigate and prosecute those who exploit children for perverse, sexual purposes.” According to court documents, in May 2022, Albarado was employed as a teacher at Morgan City High School. During this period, Albarado used a personal email account to initiate and continue email communications with a student whom Albarado knew to be 16 years old. The messages were aimed at enticing the student into illegal sexual contact. They were extremely graphic and included a request for the minor victim to send sexually explicit images of himself to her. U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Keller for the Western District of Louisiana made the announcement. The Morgan City Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren L. Nickel with assistance from Legal Assistant Christy Angelle. This case was prosecuted as part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), PSC marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. Learn more at https://www.justice.gov/psc/about-project-safe-childhood. You may find a copy of this press release (and any updates) on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Louisiana at www.justice.gov/usao-wdla. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Western District of Louisiana at www.lawd.uscourts.gov or at https://www.lawd.uscourts.gov/cmecf-pacer, under Case Number 6:25-cr-00355-01. ### CONTACT: Public Affairs: USALAW-News@usdoj.gov United States Attorney’s Office: www.justice.gov/usao-wdla X: @USAO_WDLA Facebook: USAO_WDLA (337) 262-6704


title: Repeat sex offender from Licking County sentenced to more than 19 years in federal prison for new child pornography crimes

component: USAO - Ohio, Southern

body_text: COLUMBUS, Ohio – A repeat sex offender was sentenced in federal court here today to 235 months in prison for receiving and possessing child pornography. Christopher McInturf, 56, of Newark, Ohio, pleaded guilty to the crimes in February. According to court documents, in February 2025, the Homeland Security Investigations Cyber Crime Center referred an investigative lead regarding McInturf using CashApp to pay for child pornography. Further investigation revealed that McInturf met an individual online who he believed to be in Paraguay. McInturf would pay the person typically $80 or $86 for bundles of child pornography. In January 2025, McInturf messaged the individual asking for “something new? Rape is good. 10 to 15 yr…” Investigators discovered child sexual abuse material of prepubescent female victims on McInturf’s digital devices. For example, one video was a 70-minute compilation of 55 children being sexually assaulted who were approximately two to 10 years old. On a thumb drive, McInturf had an explicit photo of a minor previously identified as the victim in a case against the defendant in Licking County. McInturf was convicted in 2011 in Licking County of two counts of rape and two counts of sexual battery. He was sentenced to 10 years in prison in his local case. McInturf was charged federally in February 2025. Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, and HSI Detroit Acting Special Agent in Charge Jared Murphey, announced the sentence imposed today by U.S. District Judge Edmund A. Sargus, Jr. Assistant United States Attorney Tyler J. Aagard is representing the United States in this case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc . # # #


title: Jamaican National Sentenced To Eight Years For Role In Sweepstakes Fraud Targeting Older Americans

component: USAO - New York, Southern

body_text: United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jamie McDonald, announced that JORDAN TROUGHT was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Vincent Briccetti to eight years in prison for his role as a high-ranking member of an international fraud ring that stole more than $9 million from more than 200 elderly victims in the United States via sweepstakes scams. TROUGHT was arrested in Jamaica on August 28, 2025, and subsequently extradited to the United States on October 22, 2025. In June 2026, he pled guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Judith C. McCarthy to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, mail fraud, and bank fraud. “This sentence reflects the seriousness of schemes that deliberately target elderly victims and strip them of their financial security,” said U.S. Attorney Jamie McDonald. “Jordan Trought defrauded hundreds of elderly victims out of millions of dollars, taking advantage of their age to rob them of their hard-earned life savings. In doing so, he and his co-conspirators imposed devastating financial consequences on their victims.” According to the Superseding Indictment, plea agreement, and statements made in public filings and in public court proceedings: From at least 2015 through at least 2025, TROUGHT and others engaged in a fraud scheme perpetrated against elderly victims (the “Elder Fraud Scheme”), through which TROUGHT and his co-conspirators defrauded more than 200 elderly victims of more than $9 million. Victims of the Elder Fraud Scheme typically received an unsolicited phone call or text from an individual using a common name—e.g., “David Miller”—claiming they had won a life-changing amount of money and a luxury car from a well-known marketing and sweepstakes company, but needed to pay taxes or fees to addresses and accounts specified by the caller before receiving the prize. The caller then remained in contact with the victims and, after the victims made their initial payments as directed, informed the victims that additional payments were required to receive their purported winnings. Victims were instructed to send money by mailing checks, money orders, and cash, as well as by wire, Zelle, and Venmo transfer, to addresses and accounts identified by the caller. TROUGHT and his co-conspirators also gained control of some victims’ bank accounts, which they used to transfer money out of and through those accounts. Victims’ funds were ultimately transferred to associates of TROUGHT and his co-conspirators, as well as to an automobile business operated by TROUGHT in Jamaica. TROUGHT, a citizen of Jamaica, operated the Elder Fraud Scheme from Jamaica, alongside co-conspirators based in both Jamaica and the United States. TROUGHT joined the fraud ring in or around March 2021 and became one of its leaders. TROUGHT is being held responsible for more than $6 million stolen from more than 100 victims from March 2021 through TROUGHT’s arrest in August 2025. * * * In addition to the prison term, TROUGHT, 31, was sentenced to three years of supervised release and ordered to pay forfeiture of $6,166,227.00. Mr. McDonald praised the outstanding investigative work of the Special Agents of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York and the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation. Mr. McDonald also thanked the U.S. Marshals Service, the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs, and Jamaican authorities, including the Jamaican Constabulary Force, for their assistance in securing TROUGHT’s arrest and extradition. This case is being handled by the Office’s White Plains Division. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Benjamin Levander, Margaret Vasu, and Ioannis Drivas are in charge of the prosecution.


title: Brookhaven Man Sentenced to 40 Months for being a Felon in Possession of a Firearm

component: Department of Justice

body_text: JACKSON, MS – A Brookhaven man was sentenced on September 3, 2026, to 40 months in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm in Lincoln County. According to court documents and statements made in court, Anthony Marquiss Jones, 26, was found possessing a firearm by Brookhaven Police Department on February 3, 2024, in a motel room while being arrested on a warrant from the Mississippi Department of Corrections for absconding supervision. U.S. Attorney J.E. Baxter Kruger of the Southern District of Mississippi and Special Agent in Charge Joshua Jackson of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) made the announcement. The ATF and Brookhaven Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Bert Carraway prosecuted the case. Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice’s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys’ offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department’s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump’s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.


title: Seven, Including El Salvadoran National, Sentenced to Federal Prison for Armed Drug Trafficking Ring Crossing State Lines

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

body_text: NEW ALBANY- Seven individuals have been sentenced to federal prison for their roles in an armed fentanyl and methamphetamine trafficking conspiracy that crossed state lines: Defendant Charge(s) Sentence Jose Buval, 35, Seymour Possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine (x2) & Possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking 19 years, 2 months’ imprisonment, 5 years of supervised release Cesar Melendez-Martir, 27, El Salvador Possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine & carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime 15 years’ imprisonment, 5 years supervised release Brandon Bowman, 32, Seymour Making a false statement during the purchase of a firearm & Distribution of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine 10 years’ imprisonment, 5 years supervised release James McMillian, 49, Columbus, IN Possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine 4 years’ imprisonment, 3 years of supervised release Robert Zambrano, 50, Columbus, IN Possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine 5 years’ imprisonment, 3 years of supervised release Jonathan Ojeda, 32, Columbus, IN Distribution of 50 Grams or More of Methamphetamine 10 years’ imprisonment, 5 years supervised release Jorge Santana-Martinez, 30, Indianapolis Distribution of 50 Grams or More of Methamphetamine 13 years’ imprisonment, 5 years supervised release According to court documents, Jose Buval orchestrated the distribution of large quantities of methamphetamine and fentanyl throughout Indianapolis, southern Indiana, and Ohio. Buval directed the drug trafficking activities of his co-conspirators, supplying them with drugs and firearms. On September 21, 2023, law enforcement observed Buval and several co-conspirators traveling in tandem from Indiana to the Dayton, Ohio, area. While in Dayton, Buval obtained more than 2,800 grams of methamphetamine. Co-conspirator Melendez-Martir took possession of the drugs. The Indiana State Police conducted a traffic stop on Melendez-Martir’s vehicle in Ripley County, Indiana, as he returned across state lines. Officers recovered approximately 2,854.7 grams of methamphetamine and the handgun Buval had provided to Melendez-Martir. Over the course of the nearly three-year investigation, law enforcement seized 890 grams of cocaine, 12 kilograms of methamphetamine, 1 kilogram of fentanyl, $11,250 in drug proceeds, and 25 firearms. At the time of the offenses, Melendez-Martir was unlawfully present in the United States and will be deported to El Salvador following completion of his prison sentence. The Drug Enforcement Administration, Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, United States Postal Inspection Service, Indiana State Police, Seymour Police Department, Jackson County Sheriff’s Department, Hamilton/Boone County Drug Task Force, Shelbyville Police Department and Joint Narcotics Enforcement Team, and the Ripley County Prosecuting Attorney investigated this case. The sentences were imposed by U.S. District Judges Tanya Walton Pratt, James P. Hanlon, and Jane Magnus-Stinson “These sentences make clear that armed drug traffickers who flood our communities with methamphetamine and fentanyl will face serious federal consequences. Our office, along with our law enforcement partners, remains committed to stopping violent drug networks and protecting the people of Indiana,” said Tom Wheeler, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “Armed drug trafficking networks that move fentanyl and methamphetamine across state lines put communities at serious risk,” said HSI Chicago Special Agent in Charge Matthew Scarpino. “HSI and our federal, state, and local partners worked across jurisdictions to disrupt this organization, seize deadly drugs and firearms, and support a prosecution that resulted in significant federal prison sentences. This outcome underscores our shared commitment to protecting the public and holding accountable those who fuel drug-related violence.” “Fentanyl and methamphetamine leave a trail of broken families and damaged communities, but they also leave a trail of money,” said Robert J. Kuszynski, Acting Special Agent in Charge, IRS Criminal Investigation, Chicago Field Office. “Our special agents are uniquely trained to trace those proceeds and turn the money behind an illegal drug enterprise into evidence against the people profiting from it. We’re proud to stand alongside our federal, state and local partners to bring accountability to those who choose to make a living peddling poison in our communities.” “This case was a success thanks to the partnership between the Department of Justice, the DEA, and local law enforcement Task Force Officers,” said Greg O’Brien, Chief of the Seymour Police Department. “Without these TFOs, small rural towns wouldn’t have the resources to carry out operations like this. We value and appreciate our ongoing collaboration with the Department of Justice.” U.S. Attorney Wheeler thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick Gibson, who prosecuted this case. These prosecutions are 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. Crossroads HSTF comprises agents and officers from FBI, Homeland Security Investigations, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Drug Enforcement Administration, Internal Revenue Services, Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department, Indiana National Guard, Indiana State Police, HIDTA, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Field Operations, Marion County Sheriff’s Office, and Plainfield Police Department, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Indiana. ###


title: Former Bethalto Attorney Accused of Stealing Over $400,000 From Minor Clients

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. – Yesterday, an attorney who practiced in Bethalto appeared in federal court to face 15 federal charges for bank and mail fraud related to his guardian ad litem appointment for four minors in Madison County. David K. Elliott, 41, was indicted by a federal grand jury on August 18, 2026. The indictment alleges that Elliott was a lawyer licensed to practice law in the state of Illinois, with his primary practice in Bethalto, Madison County. In 2016, Elliott was appointed by the Circuit Court of Madsion County, Illinois to serve as the guardian ad litem for three minor children in connection to a pending lawsuit brought on behalf of their deceased mother. In 2017, Elliott was appointed to represent another minor in connection with a pending lawsuit brought on behalf of the minor’s deceased father. According to the indictment, lawyers appointed by a court to act as a guardian ad litem in these cases owe a duty to act in the best interest of the minors, and to make reports and recommendations to the Court on proposed settlements. In this role, guardian ad litem open bank accounts in the name of the minors and serve as the custodian over those accounts until the minor turns 18. Lawyers serving as guardian ad litem are paid for their services prior to the disbursement of settlement funds and are not permitted to withdraw funds from a minor’s account without special order from the court. The indictment alleges that during his guardian ad litem appointments for these minor children, Elliott opened bank accounts for the minors and deposited settlement funds into the accounts for the benefits of the minors. Thereafter, from May 2019 to October 2022, Elliott fraudulently withdrew more than $400,000 from the minors’ bank accounts and used those funds for his own benefit. To obtain the funds from the minors’ accounts, Elliott provided the bank with fraudulent court orders that appeared to have been filed in the Madison County Circuit Court and entered by the judge presiding over the underlying lawsuit. Elliott is also accused of executing a scheme to cover up his embezzlement from the minors and their families. According to the indictment, when the first of the minor children approached the age of 18, Elliott withdrew money from two of the minors’ accounts and deposited those funds into the other account to conceal his embezzlement from the minors. Elliott further told one of the minors that they could not access the money in their account until they turned 21. In support of this false information, Elliott mailed the minor a fraudulent court order that appeared to have been entered in the Madison County Circuit Court. According to the indictment, two of the minors never received any of their respective settlement funds. Another only received a small portion of their settlement funds. “The indictment charges that a lawyer appointed to protect minor children took more than $400,000 from their accounts and used fake court orders to do it,” said U.S. Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft. “Conduct of that kind, if proved, cannot be tolerated.” Trial is set for November 9, 2026 in the Benton Courthouse before Chief Judge Staci M. Yandle. Bank fraud convictions carry a maximum penalty of 30 years’ imprisonment and fines not more than $1,000,000. Mail fraud carries a maximum penalty of 20 years’ imprisonment and fines not more than $250,000. " An indictment is merely a formal charge against a defendant. Under the law, a defendant is presumed to be innocent of a charge until proved guilty beyond a reasonable doubt to the satisfaction of a jury. " FBI Springfield is investigating this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Zoe Gross is prosecuting the case.


title: 10 Des Moines Individuals Sentenced to Federal Prison for Drug Conspiracy

body_text: DES MOINES, Iowa – Ten individuals from Des Moines were sentenced to federal prison following their pleas to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. According to public court documents and evidence presented at sentencing, between March 2025 and September 11, 2025, the charged defendants obtained and distributed methamphetamine within Des Moines and elsewhere. The more than six-month investigation included controlled purchases of methamphetamine and concluded with the execution of more than 50 search warrants on September 11, 2025. The defendants involved in this conspiracy include: Cole Anthony Langford, 42, sentenced to a 30-year prison term, followed by a 10-year term of supervised release; Kenneth Donald Stockman, 44, sentenced to a 12-year prison term, followed by a 10-year term of supervised release; Joshua Andrew Rankin, 38, sentenced to a 200-month prison term, followed by a 10-year term of supervised release; James “Jimmy” Stephen Waters Jr., 61, sentenced to a 78‑month prison term, followed by a four-year term of supervised release; Todd Allen Miller Jr., 32, sentenced to a 20-year prison term, followed by a 10-year term of supervised release; Samantha Sue Baldridge, 34, sentenced to a six-year prison term, followed by a four-year term of supervised release; Simon Anaya Sanchez, 50, sentenced to a 190-month prison term, followed by a six-year term of supervised release; Jason Lee Baxter-Blakely, 38, sentenced to a 100-month prison term, followed by a three-year term of supervised release; Jessica Renae Gleason, 43, sentenced to a 25-year prison term, followed by a 10-year term of supervised release; and Sara Ann Bowers, 40, of Des Moines, sentenced to a 10-year prison term, followed by a 5-year term of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system. At the time they conspired to distribute methamphetamine: Langford was on absconder status for state eluding and drug trafficking offenses, following his parole from state custody after serving less than one year of his sentences. Rankin was on absconder status for two state drug trafficking offenses. Miller was on parole for three state drug trafficking offenses. Sanchez had a prior federal drug conviction from the Southern District of Iowa and had been discharged from supervised release in 2021. Gleason was on parole for a state drug trafficking offense. United States Attorney David C. Waterman of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The investigation was led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Des Moines Police Department, and Iowa Department of Public Safety, Division of Narcotics Enforcement, with assistance from the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, Iowa State Patrol, Iowa Division of Intelligence and Fusion Center, Marshall County Sheriff’s Office, Marshalltown Police Department, Mid-Iowa Narcotics Enforcement Task Force, Tri-County Drug Task Force, and dozens of others.


title: Florida woman sentenced to federal prison for conspiracy to commit mail fraud

component: USAO - Georgia, Southern

body_text: AUGUSTA, Georgia: A Florida woman has been sentenced to prison for her role in a multi-state scheme to fraudulently obtain unemployment insurance benefits. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Court Judge Dudley H. Bowen and announced by Margaret E. “Meg” Heap, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. Cheryl Galloway , 67, of Yulee, Florida, was sentenced to 71 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $454,624.20 and criminal forfeiture of $96,119 after being convicted of Conspiracy to Commit Mail Fraud. There is no parole in the federal system. As described in court documents and testimony, over a two-year period Galloway, along with her co-conspirators, electronically submitted fraudulent applications with agencies in at least 40 states. The fraud scheme employed by Galloway and her co-conspirators involved filing for pandemic unemployment benefits around the country, stating they were impacted in those states, and lying about various material aspects of the applications. As a result, the conspirators received approximately $480,000 to which they were not entitled, and they attempted to obtain even more money through fraudulent and deceptive means. Some of the benefits were in the form of a debit card sent to Galloway through the U.S. Mail. Galloway’s co-defendant, Ricki Johnson , 42, of Trenton, South Carolina, was previously sentenced to 54 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $104,632 after pleading guilty to Mail Fraud. “This sentence demonstrates this offices commitment to safeguarding taxpayer-funded benefits against illegal access by those that would seek to enrich themselves,” said U.S. Attorney Heap. “This case, and many others like it, demonstrate that federal investigators and prosecutors will work together to identify these criminals and hold them accountable.” In March 2020, Congress authorized additional funding and expanded eligibility for state-administered unemployment insurance programs as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act. In an effort to maintain the integrity of those benefits, the Office of Inspector General for the U.S. Department of Labor (OIG-DOL) investigates individuals attempting to fraudulently access unemployment insurance funds. "Cheryl Galloway and her co-conspirators fraudulently obtained unemployment insurance benefits they were not entitled to, draining hard-earned tax dollars and betraying the trust of hardworking Americans. Stealing benefits is a crime and every fraudster will face the consequences they deserve,” said Anthony P. D’Esposito, Inspector General, U.S. Department of Labor. "This ruling stands as a powerful reminder that my office, in partnership with the Department of Justice, is committed to identifying and prosecuting every individual who defrauds our benefits programs. Accountability and justice will always prevail.” Anyone with information about attempted unemployment insurance benefits fraud can contact OIG-DOL at www.oig.dol.gov/hotline.htm . The case was investigated by the Office of Inspector General for the U.S. Department of Labor and prosecuted for the United States by Southern District of Georgia Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kelsey L. Scanlon, J. Bishop Ravenel and former Assistant U.S. Attorney George J.C. Jacobs III.


title: Defendants sentenced after pleading guilty in Georgia prison drug trafficking conspiracy

body_text: STATESBORO, Georgia: A defendant and his co-conspirators in a Georgia prison drug trafficking operation have been sentenced in district court. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Court Judge J. Randal Hall and announced by Margaret E. “Meg” Heap, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. Deivon Waller , a/k/a “Hitman,” a/k/a “VP”, 32, an inmate at the Georgia Diagnostic and Classification Prison in Jackson, Georgia, was sentenced to 240 months in prison and a $2,000 fine followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute Methamphetamine and Marijuana. Waller was a co-conspirator in a network of prison inmates and outside conspirators who used drones and other methods to deliver large quantities of drugs, cell phones and other contraband to Smith State Prison in Glennville, Telfair State Prison in McRae-Helena, and various other Georgia state prisons beginning as early as 2019 and continuing through July 2024. Amongst more than 20 defendants, six were not in Department of Corrections custody at any time during the conspiracies, and each of them is alleged to have been in contact with incarcerated co-defendants in furtherance of the conspiracy. Additional defendants associated with the operation have also been sentenced, they include: Kelvin Rogers , a/k/a “Gangsta,” 40, an inmate at the Smith State Prison, was sentenced to 96 months in prison and a $500 fine followed by one year of supervised release after pleading guilty to two counts of Unlawful Use of a Communication Facility. Tristahn Ash , a/k/a “Mohawk,” 29, an inmate in the Georgia Department of Corrections, was sentenced to 92 months in prison and a $1,500 fine followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine. Asa James Ward , a/k/a “Foolay,” 30, an inmate at the Georgia Diagnostic and Classification Prison, was sentenced to 56 months in prison and a $1,500 fine followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute Methamphetamine and Marijuana. There is no parole in the federal system. More than a dozen additional co-conspirators await sentencing while others have upcoming trials in federal court for various charges including, Unlawful Use of a Communication Facility and Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime. “This is but one step of many to bring these defendants to justice in a widespread conspiracy,” said U.S. Attorney Heap. “We commend the many federal, state and local law enforcement agencies whose collaborative work unraveled this criminal scheme.” “Prisons should not be targets for sophisticated drug trafficking operations,” said Michael J. Connolly, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Field Division. “This investigation exposed an effort to use technology to circumvent security and deliver dangerous drugs and contraband behind prison walls. DEA’s commitment to pursuing those responsible does not stop at the prison gate.” The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Georgia Department of Corrections Criminal Investigations Division, the Georgia Department of Corrections Intelligence Division, and local law enforcement agencies including the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office, Telfair County Sheriff’s Office, Tattnall County Sheriff’s Office, Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office, Cobb County Sheriff’s Office, the McRae-Helena Police Department, and the Eufaula, Ala., Police Department. “Identifying and managing those participating in criminal activity using contraband cell phones introduced into our facilities via drone or otherwise, is paramount in our commitment to public safety,” said GDC Commissioner Tyrone Oliver. “We appreciate the support of our federal partners in ensuring that justice will be served on these individuals for their role in jeopardizing the safe operations of our facilities, and most importantly, the safety of the public.” This case is being prosecuted for the United States by Southern District of Georgia Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy P. Dean and Criminal AUSA Chief Patricia G. Rhodes.


title: Man Sentenced to 40 Years for Role in the Murders of a Couple and their Unborn Child During a Drug Trafficking Conspiracy

component: USAO - California, Southern

body_text: SAN DIEGO – Benjamin Madrigal-Birrueta, a Mexican national in the country illegally who was living in Yakima, Washington, was sentenced in federal court today to 40 years in prison for his role in the murders of a man, his six-month pregnant wife and their unborn child during a drug-related dispute. According to his plea agreement, Madrigal and co-conspirators fatally shot 44-year-old Cesar Murillo multiple times in the back of the head and torso on August 28, 2022, during an argument. The shooting took place at a remote ranch outside of Yakima, Washington. Madrigal’s co-conspirators then buried the victim’s body in a six-foot-deep grave under a gravel road near the ranch at Madrigal’s direction. On September 2, 2022, Madrigal coaxed Murillo’s wife, Maira Sofia Hernandez, 33, to come to the ranch by claiming her husband was waiting for her there and wanted to see her. Hernandez did not know that only a few days earlier, Madrigal and his co-conspirators had shot, killed and buried her husband at the same ranch. Madrigal picked Hernandez up in Yakima and drove her 45 minutes into the mountains to the ranch. When the visibly pregnant Hernandez arrived at the ranch, the defendant parked and they got out of his car. Soon thereafter, Madrigal’s co-conspirators shot her multiple times in the head and body. U.S. District Court Judge Dana M. Sabraw described Hernandez’s drive to the ranch as “a one-way ticket for her.” Madrigal’s co-conspirators then buried Hernandez in a separate deep grave under a gravel road near the ranch, again at Madrigal’s direction. The child died in utero when Hernandez was shot, killed and buried. Madrigal also admitted in his plea agreement that the murders were committed while he was engaged in a drug trafficking conspiracy. Court testimony revealed that Murillo and Hernandez had worked with Madrigal in the drug trafficking organization but had just informed Madrigal that they planned to cooperate with law enforcement. During the sentencing, the judge repeatedly described the murders as “horrific.” “So horrific that they demand a significant sentence.” Although the Court agreed that Madrigal had a “horrible childhood” and needed money to assist his sisters with migrating from Mexico to the United States, “the answer is not to do this.” Madrigal’s motivation to murder these victims was “wrong on every possible level.” Madrigal had months to think about his actions, the Court stated, and yet he remained in the drug trafficking business. The Court added that Madrigal and his co-conspirators “executed” Murillo, Hernandez and the fetus, so he could “stay in control” and continue to run his drug business. And Madrigal clearly profited from his involvement in drug dealing, driving fancy cars, using drugs, and overseeing a ranch in Yakima with a virtual arsenal of weapons. The Court noted that the murders were particularly troubling because Madrigal was involved in killing cooperating witnesses. The Court concluded by noting, “It is very clear, the enormity of the stress and damage you have caused to the victims’ families.” “While here illegally, Benjamin Madrigal-Birrueta chose a life of violence and greed,” said U.S. Attorney Adam Gordon, “The victims’ families deserved this strong measure of justice.” “Today’s 40-year sentence holds Benjamin Madrigal-Birrueta accountable for the brutal murders of Cesar Murillo, Maira Hernandez, and their unborn child,” said Kevin Murphy, acting Special Agent in Charge of HSI San Diego. “This case reflects the extraordinary persistence of HSI special agents and our law enforcement partners to combat violent drug cartels, provide justice for victims and their families, and protect our communities.” According to court filings, the investigation originated with the seizure of drugs from vehicles using San Diego area ports of entry between August and October of 2021. The organization built sophisticated compartments in high-end stolen vehicles to smuggle drugs through the ports of entry into the United States. Madrigal-Birrueta was a leader in the criminal enterprise. He coordinated the movements of the drug mules importing the drugs and worked to get the drugs up to Yakima for dispersal to other parts of the United States. Madrigal-Birrueta also coordinated the movement of hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash back to the drug trafficking organization in Mexico. By August of 2022, the investigation led agents from San Diego up to Yakima. HSI Agents interviewed Murillo and Hernandez in August 2022. Within days of those interviews, Murillo and Hernandez were murdered and their bodies were buried in deep graves in the high desert. Court filings describe how these charges follow an exhaustive, year-long investigation that employed geophysicists, ground penetrating radar, aircraft, laser imaging, chemical testing of the soil, numerous cadaver dogs, and other law enforcement techniques to search for the victims’ remains. HSI Special Agents successfully recovered the remains on September 13, 2023, aided by a Washington State Police Crime Scene Investigations team. During the investigation agents seized methamphetamine, cocaine, fentanyl, and multiple firearms — including a machine gun — from Madrigal’s drug trafficking organization. This case 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 San Diego comprises agents and officers from FBI, Homeland Security Investigations, DEA, ATF, U.S. Marshals, Department of Defense, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Naval Criminal Investigative Service, IRS Criminal Investigation, U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Customs and Border Protection and Interpol, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of California. DEFENDANT Case Number 23cr1684-DMS Benjamin Madrigal-Birrueta Age: 25 Yakima, WA SUMMARY OF CHARGES Count 4 : Murder of Cesar Armando Murillo in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Conspiracy – Title 21, United States Code, Section 848(e) Mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years and up to life, or death Count 5 : Murder of Maira Sophia Hernandez in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Conspiracy – Title 21, United States Code, Section 848(e) Mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years and up to life, or death Count 9 : Causing the Death of a Child in Utero – Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1841 and 1111 Mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years and up to life, or death INVESTIGATING AGENCIES Homeland Security Investigations Drug Enforcement Administration Federal Bureau of Investigation Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Washington State Police California Highway Patrol Yakima Police Department Tulare County Sheriff’s Office Visalia Police Department Fresno Sheriff’s Office Fresno Police Department


title: Former Director of Nasdaq Company Convicted of Securities Fraud

body_text: SAN DIEGO – Donald Danks of Irvine was convicted by a federal jury today of conspiracy to commit securities fraud, witness tampering, obstruction of justice, and perjury in connection with a multi-million-dollar scheme to defraud investors in a Nasdaq-listed company and his subsequent efforts to obstruct the investigation into his conduct. After a two-week retrial, the jury found that Danks engaged in a six-year securities fraud scheme involving the stock of Loop Industries, Inc. Danks used his position as a company insider to obtain nonpublic information and influence investors while secretly selling Loop shares for his own benefit. According to evidence presented at trial, Danks helped form Loop and served on its board of directors and audit committee, giving him access to a steady stream of inside information that continued even after he left the board. During the conspiracy, Danks solicited investors to purchase more than $100 million in Loop stock, including through the selective disclosure of inside information. He also directed investors to purchase shares at specific times, prices, and volumes in an effort to influence the stock price. Danks carried out the scheme through Ventanas Capital LLC, a shell company he created with a former associate. He created fictitious employees and used the company to conceal his and his associate’s roles in the transactions. Danks transferred hundreds of thousands of Loop shares to Ventanas and gradually sold them to finance his and his associate’s lifestyle. He also used Ventanas to conduct stock transactions that concealed his identity as a seller. Although Danks was required to disclose his control and trading of Loop stock, he failed to disclose that he was selling shares through Ventanas. At the same time, he repeatedly promoted Loop as a strong investment and represented that he was purchasing shares, while secretly selling shares himself and through Ventanas. In total, Danks profited more than $4 million from the scheme. After the SEC and FBI began investigating, Danks and his associate took additional steps to conceal the fraud. Among other things, they fabricated and backdated promissory notes to create the appearance of legitimate loans. Evidence presented at trial showed that documents purportedly created over a period of years were actually prepared at the same time. Danks subsequently testified about those documents during his first trial without disclosing that they had been created after the investigation began. Danks also tampered with his associate, encouraging her to repeat his false account of who controlled their shell company. His first trial ended in a mistrial. Danks is scheduled to be sentenced on December 4, 2026, before U.S. District Judge Cynthia A. Bashant. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Janaki G. Chopra and Nicholas W. Pilchak. DEFENDANT Case Number 22-CR-2701-BAS Donald Danks Age: 69 Irvine, CA SUMMARY OF CHARGES Conspiracy, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 371 Maximum Penalties: Five years in prison; $250,000 fine or twice the gross gain or loss Witness Tampering, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1512(b)(1) Maximum Penalties: Twenty years in prison; $250,000 fine Obstruction of Justice, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1503 Maximum Penalties: Ten years in prison; $250,000 fine Perjury, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1623(a) Maximum Penalties: Five years in prison; $250,000 fine INVESTIGATING AGENCY Federal Bureau of Investigation


title: Mexican National Sentenced to 2 Years in Federal Prison for Identity Theft and Passport Fraud

component: USAO - South Carolina

body_text: COLUMBIA, S.C. — Ricardo Gonzalez Bahena, 43, an illegal alien residing in Graniteville, has been sentenced to two years in federal prison for identity theft and passport fraud. Gonzalez Bahena, a Mexican national, will be deported after serving his sentence. Evidence obtained in the investigation revealed that Gonzalez Bahena was working at the Savannah River Nuclear Site under a false identity. During his employment, he attempted to obtain an increased security clearance, but investigators discovered inconsistencies during the background investigation. Thereafter, they uncovered his scheme. On two separate occasions, he also attempted to apply for a U.S. passport in Augusta, Georgia using the same false identity. The stolen identity belonged to a vulnerable adult and American citizen in Puerto Rico who has never left Puerto Rico. United States District Judge Sherri A. Lydon sentenced Gozalez Bahena to 24 months’ imprisonment, to be followed by a three-year term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system. Bahena was also ordered to pay $35,695 in restitution to the victim. This case was investigated by the Department of Energy and the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service (DSS). Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott Matthews is prosecuting the case. ###


title: Colombian National Indicted in Homeland Security Task Force Investigation into $135M Money Laundering Conspiracy

body_text: GREENVILLE, S.C. — A federal grand jury in Greenville returned a single-count indictment, presented by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, charging William Andres Holguin Mendez, 40, of Colombia, for his role in a $135 million money laundering conspiracy. The indictment alleges that in August 2023, FBI agents began investigating individuals believed to be involved in the international laundering of drug proceeds in the Greenville area. Law enforcement identified numerous bank accounts associated with shell corporations that were receiving proceeds from the sale of illegal narcotics. These bank accounts would then, in turn, send the drug proceeds to a single account with a United States-based cryptocurrency exchange. Know Your Customer (KYC), a compliance process used by financial institutions to verify customer identities and assess risks, revealed that the sole owner of the accounts was Holguin Mendez. The investigation revealed that the drug proceeds in this account would be converted to stablecoin cryptocurrency before ultimately being moved to an account with a foreign-based cryptocurrency exchange. KYC information provided to the foreign-based cryptocurrency exchange also revealed that the sole owner of the account was Holguin Mendez. The investigation showed that the cryptocurrency in the foreign based cryptocurrency exchange account was then converted to Colombian pesos and distributed to 207 Colombian bank accounts. Approximately $135 million in United States dollars traveled through Holguin Mendez’s account from March 2023 to May 2024. “The Homeland Security Task Force continues to disrupt drug money laundering organizations, as is alleged in the indictment of a $135 million scheme orchestrated by Holguin Mendez,” said U.S. Attorney Bryan Stirling for the District of South Carolina. “Law enforcement will work together across domestic and international borders to trace illegal drug profits to investigate and prosecute narcotics dealers.” “The defendant, as alleged in the indictment, backchanneled approximately $135 million of illegal drug proceeds tied to Upstate South Carolina,” said FBI Columbia Special Agent in Charge Anish Shukla. “The FBI, along with our HSTF partners, is on a continuous mission to identify, investigate, and prosecute every criminal involved in large-scale drug operations from the dealers to the money facilitators. We are committed to making our communities safe and removing the threat of cartels.” Holguin Mendez faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison and is currently detained pending trial. This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. The case was investigated by the FBI Columbia Field Office, the Drug Enforcement Administration and Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Bondura is prosecuting the case. All charges in the indictment are merely accusations and defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. ###


title: Federal Firearms Offenses Weekly Roundup

component: USAO - Nevada

body_text: LAS VEGAS – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Nevada, working with our partners in federal, state, and local law enforcement, are combining resources to protect Nevada’s communities from offenders who violate federal firearms laws. We are jointly committed to bringing to justice those who endanger our communities. “This week's sweeping indictments send a clear message: if you flood our streets with illegal guns or use a firearm to terrorize our neighborhoods, you will be caught and you will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of federal law,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada. “Our office, alongside our dedicated local and federal law enforcement partners, will continue to use every tool at our disposal to dismantle the networks driving gun violence and bring peace back to our communities.” This week, federal firearms enforcement efforts in the District of Nevada resulted in the sentencing of an individual involved in the unlawful purchase of firearms and separate federal indictments charging four individuals prohibited from possessing firearms. Jerion Ballott was sentenced today to three years’ probation for providing a false statement during the purchase of a firearm at a Federal Firearms Licensee in Las Vegas. Between May 2020 and March 2022, he aided his co-defendant in purchasing 18 firearms that were later resold to others – some of those firearms ended up in the hands of criminals. He has a prior domestic violence conviction, and he is prohibited by law from possessing firearms. The government recommended 18 months’ imprisonment. In addition, a federal grand jury returned separate indictments this week charging three individuals with prior felony convictions and one individual who is unlawfully in the United States with illegally possessing firearms. According to allegations made in the separate indictments: • On or about August 13, 2026, Charles Richard Cleary, Jr. possessed a semi-automatic .32 caliber pistol, a .30-06 Springfield caliber semi-automatic rifle, and a 12-gauge shotgun, after he had previously been convicted of murder in Indiana. Cleary Jr. is charged with one count of prohibited person in possession of a firearm. • On or about August 27, 2026, Vadim Merkulov , who is an illegal alien in the United States, possessed multiple firearms including a 9x18mm Makarov firearm, a .45 caliber firearm, and a 5.56 caliber firearm. Merkulov is charged with one count of prohibited person in possession of a firearm. • On or about June 9, 2026, Rondall Talley possessed a .380 caliber semi-automatic pistol after he had previously been convicted of carjacking, interference with commerce by robbery, and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence in Nevada. Talley was on federal supervision at the time of this alleged offense. Talley is charged with one count of possession of a firearm by a prohibited person. • On or about February 20, 2026, Wesley Alan Wilson possessed a 9mm semi-automatic pistol after he had previously been convicted of grand larceny auto, possession of forged instrument, two counts of possession of stolen vehicle, and attempt possession of stolen vehicle, all in Clark County, Nevada. Wilson is charged with one count of possession of a firearm by a prohibited person. These cases are being investigated by the ATF, FBI, U.S. Marshals Service, and the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. Assistant United States Attorneys Melinda Brewer, Steven Rose, Joseph Sciscento, and Melanee Smith are prosecuting these cases. An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. ###


title: Cuban National Sentenced for Assaulting Transportation Security Officers and Local Law Enforcement Officers at Airport

body_text: LAS VEGAS – A Cuban national who was on probation following a conviction for assault with a deadly weapon and with other prior violent convictions was sentenced today by Chief United States District Judge Andrew P. Gordon to 33 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to attempting to access a secure passenger boarding area using a fake boarding pass then assaulting four officers at Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas. The government recommended a sentence of 60 months’ imprisonment. “The violent actions of this defendant directly threatened the safety of everyday travelers and the dedicated personnel who work tirelessly to secure our nation's airways,” said First Assistant United States Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada. “Physical assault against our TSA and local law enforcement partners will be met with the full force of federal prosecution. Our office remains steadfastly committed to ensuring our transit hubs remain safe and secure, and we will continue to hold accountable anyone who compromises public safety through violence.” “TSA officers perform a vital public safety mission every day, and assaults against them are unacceptable,” said TSA Administrator David P. Cummins. “I commend the TSA officers at Harry Reid International Airport, along with TSA Investigations and our law enforcement partners, for their professionalism and quick response in protecting the checkpoint and the traveling public. TSA will continue to work closely with local law enforcement and the criminal justice system to ensure individuals who attempt to compromise airport security or assault our employees are held accountable.” According to court documents, on November 3, 2025, Jhon Raul Vizcaino Ramirez presented a TSA screening officer a boarding pass in the name of another person and attempted to enter the passenger boarding area. After Vizcaino Ramirez refused to provide his identification, the TSA officer would not return the boarding to Vizcaino Ramirez and Vizcaino Ramirez assaulted that officer. Officers attempted to detain Ramirez, but he resisted arrest. During the altercation, Vizcaino Ramirez assaulted two TSA officers and two Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department officers who were assisting TSA. One officer sustained an injury that required surgery. Vizcaino Ramirez pleaded guilty to two counts of interference with security screening personnel; two counts of assaulting, resisting, or impeding person assisting certain officers or employees; and one count of entry by false pretenses to secure area of any airport. This case was investigated by TSA Investigations with the assistance of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Tina Snellings prosecuted the case. ###


title: Gallup Man Pleads Guilty to Charges in Fatal Shooting

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE – A Gallup man pleaded guilty to federal charges for fatally shooting an 18-year-old man and wounding a 16-year-old girl at a Church Rock residence in April 2025. According to court records, in the early morning hours of April 6, 2025, a shooting occurred at a Church Rock, New Mexico residence. A resident of the home awoke to gunshots and, along with a second resident, entered 16-year-old Jane Doe’s bedroom, where the residents discovered 18-year-old John Doe deceased on the floor, Jane Doe suffering from multiple gunshot wounds, and the suspect, Mario Israel Barraza , 19 . According to court records, at approximately 3:30 a.m., Barraza arrived at Jane Doe’s residence and approached Jane Doe’s bedroom window. Barraza knew the window was sometimes left unlocked because he had previously entered the home through the window when visiting Jane Doe at night. When Barraza opened the window, he encountered John Doe, whom he had never met. The two began fighting through the window, and during the altercation a handgun was introduced. Barraza gained possession of the handgun and fired at least 11 gunshots into the bedroom. Most of the shots struck John Doe; Jane Doe, who was directly behind John Doe, was also hit by gunfire. Barraza fled the scene immediately after the shooting, drove home, and disposed of the handgun in an open field. He later provided his attorneys with the location of the handgun. Jane Doe and John Doe are enrolled members of the Navajo Nation. Barraza is not an enrolled member of any federally recognized Tribe. Barraza pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and assault with a dangerous weapon. At sentencing, he faces up to life in prison. First Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Special Agent in Charge Justin A. Garris of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office made the announcement today. The Gallup Resident Agency of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Ramah-Navajo Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Zachary C. Jones is prosecuting the case.


title: Two Men, including a Mexican National, Indicted for Drug Trafficking Conspiracy

component: USAO - New Jersey

body_text: NEWARK, N.J. – Two men, including a Mexican national, were arraigned after being indicted for their roles in a drug trafficking conspiracy to transport a large quantity of cocaine into New Jersey, U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer announced. Oscar Salvador Pelayo-Guzman, 55, a Mexican national, and most recently of Missouri, and Michael Brandon Araiza, 27, of California were charged in a one-count Indictment with conspiracy to distribute controlled substances. They were arraigned on September 10, 2026 before U.S. District Judge Jamel K. Semper in Newark federal court. Both entered pleas of not guilty. Two other defendants charged in the drug distribution conspiracy, Jose Manuel Amaya Villarreal and Reymond Alex Avina Samaniego, both of California, previously entered guilty pleas before Judge Semper to separate Informations charging them with conspiracy to distribute controlled substances. Villarreal was sentenced to 57 months’ imprisonment on August 7, 2026; sentencing for Samaniego is scheduled for November 9, 2026. According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court: Pelayo-Guzman is associated with the Jalisco New Generation Cartel operating in Mexico and a principal member of a Kansas City-based drug trafficking organization involved in the international and interstate transportation and distribution of narcotics. Beginning in January 2025, Pelayo-Guzman, Araiza, Villarreal, and Samaniego conspired to transport large quantities of cocaine to New Jersey. Specifically, Pelayo-Guzman and Araiza traveled to New Jersey in April 2025 and arranged for a shipment of approximately 20 kilograms of cocaine to be delivered to Newark, New Jersey from California via a truck driven by Villarreal and Samaniego. After delivering the approximately 20 kilograms of cocaine in exchange for over $300,000 in cash, law enforcement officers arrested Villarreal and Samaniego. Pelayo-Guzman and Araiza were arrested shortly afterwards. The charge in the Indictment carries a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison, a maximum potential penalty of life in prison, and a fine of up to $10 million. U.S. Attorney Frazer credited special agents with the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Towanda R. Thorne-James, with the investigation leading to the Indictment. He also thanked the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Michael S. McCarthy; IRS-Criminal Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Jenifer Piovesan in Newark; the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Prosecutor Raymond S. Santiago; the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer; the Asbury Park Police Department, under the direction of Police Director John B. Hayes; the Newark Department of Public Safety, Newark Police Division, under the direction of Public Safety Director Emanuel Miranda; the Middletown Police Department, under the direction of Chief of Police R. Craig Weber; the Lakewood Police Department, under the direction of Chief of Police Gregory H. Meyer; the Neptune Police Department, under the direction of Chief of Police Anthony Gualario; the Ocean Gate Police Department, under the direction of Chief Michael Kuchta; and the Spotswood Police Department, under the direction of Chief of Police Philip Corbisiero, for their assistance in the investigation. 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. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan S. Garelick of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Criminal Division in Trenton. The charges and allegations contained in the Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. ### Defense counsel: Oscar Salvador Pelayo-Guzman: Adalgiza A. Núñez, Esq. Michael Brandon Araiza: Patrick J. Joyce, Esq. Jose Manuel Amaya Villarreal: Perry Primavera, Esq. Reymond Alex Avina Samaniego: Joseph D. Rotella, Esq. guzmanetal.indictment.pdf samaniego.information.pdf villarreal.information.pdf


title: Texas Woman Sentenced to 15 Months in Prison for Fraudulently Selling Thousands of Counterfeit Coupons Causing Losses to Retailers Across the United States in Excess of $17 Million

body_text: NEWARK, N.J. – A San Antonio, Texas woman received a 15-month prison sentence for her role in a conspiracy to distribute counterfeit coupons that were used at retail stores across the United States to procure more than $17 million in unauthorized discounts, U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer announced. Janet Bernal, 49, of San Antonio, Texas, previously pled guilty before U.S. District Judge William Martini in Newark federal court to conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Judge Martini imposed the sentence on September 9, 2026. According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court: From June 2020 through August 2024, Bernal orchestrated a fraudulent scheme to produce and sell counterfeit coupons for use by purchasers at retail stores throughout the United States, including large pharmacies and grocery stores. In furtherance of her scheme, Bernal offered counterfeit coupons through a monthly fee-based subscription group that was available on a commonly-used Internet cloud-based messaging application. Members subscribed to the group, paid the monthly fee, and then had unlimited access to numerous types of counterfeit coupons that Bernal posted for download. Members paid the monthly fee via mobile cash accounts that Bernal directly controlled. Over the span of the scheme, members downloaded thousands of counterfeit coupons and redeemed them at retail stores throughout New Jersey and elsewhere in the United States. In total, the loss to the retail stores and to the manufacturers whose products were purchased with the counterfeit coupons was in excess of $17 million. In addition to the prison term, Judge Martini also sentenced Bernal to two years of supervised release, ordered her to forfeit $67,290.68, and ordered her to pay $17,865,614.70 in restitution. U.S. Attorney Frazer credited special agents of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service in Newark, Philadelphia Division, under the direction of Inspector in Charge Christopher A. Nielsen, with the investigation. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron L. Webman, Deputy Chief of the Economic Crimes Unit. ### Defense counsel: Mary E. Warner, Hampton, New Jersey


title: Massachusetts Man Sentenced to Nearly Six Years for Trafficking Methamphetamine

body_text: CONCORD – Matthew Schnell, 45, of Bellingham, Massachusetts was sentenced yesterday in federal court by U.S. District Court Judge Steven McAuliffe to 71 months imprisonment and three years of supervised release for trafficking large amounts of methamphetamine, U.S. Attorney Erin Creegan announces. Schnell pleaded guilty in May 2025 to one count of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance, specifically methamphetamine. “This defendant helped run a major operation trafficking dangerous drugs out of central New Hampshire and will now be held accountable,” said U.S. Attorney Creegan. “Due to strong partnership with our state and local law enforcement counterparts, we were able to take down this methamphetamine distribution conspiracy. Our office will continue to pursue those who bring harm and destructive addiction to our communities.” “Matthew Schnell is now behind bars for facilitating a substantial drug trafficking organization that pushed pounds of methamphetamine into New Hampshire, fueling addiction, violence, and instability in our neighborhoods,” said Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Boston Division. “Let this hefty sentence be a warning to others who think they can profit from flooding our streets with dangerous drugs and escape responsibility. The FBI and our partners will find you and ensure you are brought to justice.” According to the court documents and statements made in court, in the fall of 2022, the FBI’s New Hampshire Major Offender Task Force, and the New Hampshire State Police (“NHSP”) began investigating a methamphetamine distribution conspiracy in New Hampshire. The investigation revealed that Schnell obtained methamphetamine from suppliers and then would provide methamphetamine to Thomas Conway for further distribution in New Hampshire. Phone calls and text messages intercepted during the investigation confirmed that the defendant worked as Conway’s primary supplier and business partner. For example, in one conversation, Schnell, Conway, and another co-conspirator discussed the need to need to restructure their drug trafficking organization to ensure a sufficient drug supply. In multiple other intercepted communications, Schnell discussed obtaining multiple pound quantities of methamphetamine for Conway. Law enforcement later seized drugs before they could be distributed. The Federal Bureau of Investigation Major Offender Task Force in partnership with the New Hampshire State Police led the investigation. The Concord Police Department, Franklin Police Department, and New Hampton Police Department provided valuable assistance. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew T. Hunter and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather Cherniske prosecuted the case. This case is part of New Hampshire’s 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 U.S. 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 New Hampshire comprises agents and officers from FBI, HSI, IRS, DEA, ATF, USMS, and DSS with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of New Hampshire.


title: Career Criminal Sentenced for Drug Distribution

component: USAO - West Virginia, Northern

body_text: ELKINS, WEST VIRGINIA – A Huttonsville, West Virginia man will spend the next 87 months in prison for selling methamphetamine in Randolph County, U.S. Attorney Matthew L. Harvey announced. Justin Michael Hoover, 35, sold methamphetamine to a confidential source from both his home and his vehicle. In total, investigators recovered more than 61 grams of methamphetamine. Hoover’s criminal history includes earlier offenses involving drugs, firearms, domestic battery, and various driving violations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen Warner prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. The Mountain Region Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, investigated. 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. Chief U.S. District Judge Thomas S. Kleeh presided.