title: Hogansburg Man Arrested for Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance

body_text: ALBANY, NEW YORK – David Terrance appeared in federal court on charges of possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance. First Assistant U.S. Attorney John A. Sarcone III, Homeland Security Investigations Buffalo Acting Special Agent in Charge Anthony Patrone, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives New York Special Agent in Charge Bryan DiGirolamo, Ontario Provincial Police Chief Superintendent Mike Stoddart, Akwesasne Mohawk Police Service Chief of Police Ranatiiostha Swamp and Saint Regis Mohawk Tribal Police Chief of Police Matthew Rourke made the announcement. According to the complaint, Terrance was observed loading bags of suspected marijuana onto a marine vessel staged on Cornwall Island, he was then further observed as he trailered and transported the vessel to his property in Hogansburg NY. Terrance was apprehended at his property in Hogansburg where law enforcement seized 47 bags containing approximately 1,250 pounds of marijuana, along with six firearms. The defended appeared before United States Magistrate Judge Gary L. Favro on August 20 th and at an August 25 th detention hearing was ordered detained pending further proceedings. First Assistant U.S. Attorney John A. Sarcone III said, “Collaboration among federal, state, local, tribal, and international law enforcement is at an all‑time high in the Northern District of New York. As alleged, this defendant attempted to smuggle more than 1,200 pounds of illegal marijuana into the United States, where he was quickly apprehended and prevented from further trafficking these illicit substances. My office and our partners will continue to aggressively pursue anyone seeking to smuggle contraband into the United States and ensure these traffickers face the full weight of the American justice system.” HSI Buffalo Acting Special Agent in Charge Anthony Patrone said, "This arrest disrupted an attempt to traffic a significant quantity of drugs and illicit goods into a region where such activity continues to threaten the safety and stability of our communities. HSI Massena, alongside our local, state, federal, tribal, and international partners, remains committed to protecting our communities—one arrest, one seizure, and one investigation at a time." ATF New York Special Agent in Charge Bryan DiGirolamo said, “Protecting our communities requires strong partnerships that extend across jurisdictions and borders. This arrest reflects the strength of that collaboration and what can be accomplished when law enforcement agencies work together toward a common mission. ATF NY Syracuse is proud to stand alongside HSI, the Ontario Provincial Police and the Akwesasne Mohawk Police Service in our shared commitment to disrupting illegal activity and protecting the communities we serve.” “This investigation demonstrates the importance of coordinated, intelligence-led policing in combating cross-border crime. The Ontario Provincial Police was proud to support efforts to disrupt the trafficking of illegal drugs and firearms between Ontario and New York State, and we remain committed to working with our partners to target those who threaten the safety and security of our communities,” said Chief Superintendent Mike Stoddart Ontario Provincial Police Saint Regis Mohawk Tribal Police Chief of Police Matthew Rourke said, “As Chief of Police, I would like to acknowledge and commend the hard work, dedication, and professionalism demonstrated by the members of the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribal Police Department in protecting the community of Akwesasne. The most important aspect of this investigation was the strong partnership, coordination, and communication among our federal, state, local, and provincial law enforcement partners. This collaborative effort demonstrates what can be accomplished when agencies work together with a common goal of protecting our communities and disrupting criminal activity. The Saint Regis Mohawk Tribal Police Department will not tolerate individuals or organized criminal groups attempting to exploit the good people of Akwesasne or those who live, work, and travel through our community. We will continue to work closely with our law enforcement partners to identify, investigate, and disrupt criminal activity that threatens the safety and security of our community. Organized crime affiliates should be made aware that Akwesasne is no longer a gateway for transnational smuggling routes. The agencies participating in this investigation have demonstrated that we are united, vigilant, and committed to preventing our community from being exploited for criminal purposes. I am proud of the work performed by our officers and grateful for the cooperation and commitment demonstrated by all of our partner agencies. This investigation is a clear example of the importance of communication, information sharing, and strong partnerships in keeping Akwesasne safe.” "This investigation highlights the strength of our cross-border law enforcement partnerships and our collective commitment to combating transnational organized crime. Through ongoing intelligence sharing of our joint enforcement initiatives, we will continue to identify, disrupt, and dismantle criminal organizations involved in the cross-border smuggling of illicit drugs, while working together to enhance the safety and security of our communities," said Chief of Police Ranatiiostha Swamp Akwesasne Mohawk Police Service. This operation 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 Buffalo comprises agents and officers from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Alcohol, Tabacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Internal Revenue Service (IRS/ CID), U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO), Customs and Border Protection/ Office of Border Patrol (CBP/ OBP), Customs and Border Protection/ Office of Field Operations (CBP/ OFO), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Coast Guard Investigative Service (CGIS), U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), U.S. Secret Service (USSS), Department of State/Diplomatic Security Service (DSS) with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of New York. ###


title: Felon Who Pulled Gun During Altercation Sentenced to Federal Prison

component: USAO - Iowa, Northern

body_text: Edward Hankerson, age 40, from Chicago, Illinois, was sentenced today to five years in federal prison, after an April 17, 2026, guilty plea to Possession of a Firearm by a Felon and Domestic Violence Misdemeanant. Evidence in the case revealed Hankerson’s criminal possession of a firearm was discovered on September 24, 2025, when law enforcement responded to a report of two individuals fighting outside of a mini mart. When law enforcement arrived, the parties had left the area. During the investigation, officers obtained surveillance footage of the incident which showed that Hankerson pulled a gun from his waistband and pointed it at the other individual. However, the magazine had fallen out of the gun when Hankerson drew it from his waistband, so when he attempted to fire the gun, it did not discharge. Hankerson then pistol-whipped the victim before leaving the scene on foot. A short time later, law enforcement observed Hankerson leaving his residence where he was taken into custody. Hankerson admitted to the altercation and pulling the firearm on the individual. Hankerson’s criminal history includes convictions for possession of a controlled substance, operating while intoxicated as well as two convictions for domestic battery causing bodily harm. Hankerson was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand to 60 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a 3-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. Hankerson is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison. The case was investigated by the Sioux City, Iowa Police Department and the United States Department of Justice’s Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF). This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Forde Fairchild. Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl . The case file number is 25-4070. Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.


title: Convicted Felon Fraud Promoter Sentenced to Federal Prison for Scheme Involving $6.5 Million in Stolen Checks

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: ATLANTA - Shamarri Tache Brooks, a multi-convicted felon and rapper, was sentenced to federal prison for a fraud scheme involving thousands of checks stolen from the mail. “In addition to personally committing bank fraud, Brooks brazenly marketed and sold fraud tutorials and trafficked thousands of stolen checks worth millions of dollars. Thankfully, Brooks’s ineptitude matched his boldness—his efforts to negotiate the checks failed, sparing his victims from any known loss,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “Although Brooks sought to teach his followers how to commit fraud, the real lesson here is that crime does not pay. We will catch you, and you will go to prison—even if your scheme is unsuccessful.” “This defendant built a criminal enterprise around stealing checks, exploiting bank accounts, and teaching others how to commit fraud. His actions put millions of dollars at risk and victimized individuals and financial institutions across our community,” said Marlo Graham, Special Agent in a Charge of FBI Atlanta. “This sentence reflects the serious consequences of turning fraud into a business, and the FBI and our law enforcement partners will continue to pursue those who profit from stealing from others.” “The sentencing in this case brings the defendant to justice for facilitating a scheme that stole thousands of checks worth millions of dollars,” said Special Agent in Charge Kyle A. Myles, of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Office of Inspector General (FDIC OIG), Atlanta Region. “The FDIC OIG remains committed to working with our law enforcement partners to hold those who commit financial crimes accountable, as we seek to preserve the integrity of the Nation’s financial system and protect depositors.” “The defendant’s brazen criminal conduct disrupted the lives of countless victims and, by sharing his fraud techniques with others for a fee on social media, he created even more victims,” said Rob Donovan, U.S. Secret Service Atlanta Field Office. “Brooks’s sentence is the reflection of the severity of his crimes and is the result of the cooperation of our local and federal law enforcement partners. We are grateful for the opportunity to work alongside the dedicated men and women of each of the agencies involved to bring this case to the appropriate end – the defendant in prison.” “Brooks’s sentencing sends a clear signal to fraudsters that bank fraud and mail theft will not be tolerated,” said Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Ulrich of the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General. “Our special agents, in collaboration with our federal and local law enforcement partners, are committed to thoroughly investigate these federal crimes to protect the sanctity of the U.S. Mail and maintain the integrity of these essential services.” According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the indictment, and other information presented in court: From at least January 2022 through November 2025, Brooks committed bank fraud by negotiating checks stolen from the mail. As part of the scheme, Brooks used social media to recruit individuals with existing bank accounts to use as depository accounts for stolen checks. Brooks altered the stolen checks to list the cooperating accountholders as the intended recipients or payees of the checks. Brooks deposited altered checks at ATMs throughout the Atlanta area, often wearing balaclava-style masks with a logo stating “No Free Sauce.” Brooks also promoted and sold tutorials for committing various forms of financial fraud, including check fraud. He sold a collection of these tutorials under the name “Sauce Book” or “SB.” Brooks also sold images of stolen checks, referred to as “slips,” as a part of his fraud business. Although Brooks and his associates stole checks with a combined face value of $6,574,288, law enforcement recovered many of these checks from Brooks’s home, and there is no evidence that Brooks succeeded in negotiating the remainder. On August 27, 2026, Shamarri Tache Brooks, a/k/a Juney Knotzz, 34, of Stone Mountain, Georgia, was sentenced to six years in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release. On May 7, 2026, Brooks pleaded guilty to bank fraud and aggravated identity theft. His lengthy criminal history includes convictions for drug trafficking, weapon possession, obstruction of law enforcement, and battery. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation-Office of the Inspector General, the U.S. Secret Service, and the U.S. Postal Service, Office of Inspector General. The Dunwoody Police Department and the U.S. Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration provided valuable assistance in the investigation. To protect yourself from becoming the victim of mail theft and check fraud, law enforcement recommends the following steps: Pick up your mail promptly after delivery. Do not leave mail in your mailbox overnight or for long periods of time. If you are heading out of town, submit a USPS Hold Mail ™ request asking your local Post Office to hold your mail until you return. Sign up for Informed Delivery ® at USPS.com to receive daily email notifications of incoming mail and packages. Contact the sender if you do not receive a check, credit card or other valuable mail you are expecting. Consider buying and using security envelopes to conceal the contents of your mail. When mailing checks or other important mail use Signature Confirmation™ for the intended recipient. Use the letter slots inside your local Post Office to send mail. When using checks, educate yourself about the steps you can take to prevent fraudsters from exploiting stolen checks, such as setting up positive pay with your financial institution. If you think you were targeted by fraudsters, file a report with your bank and request copies of all fraudulent checks. If you believe you are the victim of mail theft-related check fraud, report to your local police, the United States Postal Service Office of Inspector General at https://hotlineform.uspsoig.gov/en-US/Hotline or the United States Postal Inspection Service at uspis.gov/report or (877) 876-2455 . Assistant United States Attorney Jessica C. Morris prosecuted the case. For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6185. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga .


title: Crawfordville Man Sentenced to Ten Years in Federal Prison for Child Exploitation Crimes

component: USAO - Florida, Northern

body_text: Tallahassee, Florida – Anthony Wayne Lanier, 33, of Crawfordville, Florida was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison after previously pleading guilty to Attempted Enticement of a Minor and Attempted Transmission of Obscene Material to a Minor. The sentence was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida. U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “This case demonstrates the kinds of threats our kids face online from predators, like this defendant, who seek to sexually exploit and victimize them. Thankfully, our excellent state and federal law enforcement officers are committed to tracking down those offenders wherever they lurk, and my office is aggressively prosecuting these cases to keep them locked behind bars and away from our kids.” Court documents reflect that on November 20, 2025, the defendant communicated online with an individual he believed to be a child, but was actually an undercover law enforcement officer. The defendant repeatedly asked the child to send inappropriate photos, asked to commit sexual acts on the child and her friend, and sent a picture of his genitalia. The defendant then drove to an agreed upon location where he believed he would be meeting the child, but he was instead arrested by law enforcement upon arriving. Once he is released from prison, Lanier will be on supervised release for a twenty-year term. The conviction and sentence were the result of a joint investigation by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the Tallahassee Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Meredith L. Steer. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice and led by the U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Divisions Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), it marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov . The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl .


title: Billings man sentenced to more than 11 years in prison for drug trafficking

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: BILLINGS – A Billings man who trafficking fentanyl and meth into Montana was sentenced Wednesday to 11 years and eight months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release, Acting U.S. Attorney Mark Steger Smith said. Brian John Schmidt, Jr., 41, pleaded guilty in April 2026 to possession with intent to distribute controlled substances. U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters presided. The government alleged in court documents that Schmidt, along with two others, travelled to Denver in March 2024 and purchased fentanyl and methamphetamine that they brought back to Montana to sell. A tip led law enforcement to look into Michael Anthony Moen, who had driven to Denver with the intent of purchasing illicit drugs on March 8, 2024. Agents tracked the car in which Moen was traveling and pulled him over as he returned to Montana. Also in the car were Schmidt and Lindsey Pearl Lynn. Both Lynn and Moen pleaded guilty earlier this year to drug trafficking charges. Moen will be sentenced on Sept. 3; Lynn will be sentenced on Dec. 10. After they were pulled over, the three gave various accounts of who was buying the drugs and who knew the seller. At one point, Schmidt tried to ingest a bag of fentanyl pills to keep them from being found by law enforcement. Ultimately, he admitted to agents that he had travelled to Denver to obtain the illicit drugs in order to distribute them in Billings. The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. The Montana Division of Criminal Investigation and DEA conducted the investigation.


title: Billings man sentenced to 14 years for trafficking meth with firearm

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

body_text: BILLINGS – A Billings man who trafficked meth and unlawfully kept a stash of guns was sentenced Friday to 14 years in prison, followed by five years of supervised release, Acting U.S. Attorney Mark Steger Smith said. Jacob Bradley Long, 25, pleaded guilty in April 2026 to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and unlawfully possessing a firearm. U.S. District Judge William W. Mercer presided. The government alleged in court documents that Long was periodically traveling to Colorado to pick up methamphetamine that he then sold in Billings. Law enforcement learned from multiple sources in May 2025 that Long was trafficking meth and using a gun for protection. Officers executed a search warrant on Long’s residence in June 2025 and found three guns and ammunition. Long had been convicted of a felony in 2020 and so was prohibited from possessing firearms. Law enforcement continued their investigation and tracked Long’s vehicle on a trip to Colorado in July 2025. When they attempted to pull him over in Big Horn County, Long fled from officers, who used a spike strip to stop Long’s vehicle. Long had thrown three pounds of meth from the car during the pursuit, which officers subsequently found on the side of the highway. A second search of Long’s house turned up an additional firearm and small amounts of meth and fentanyl. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jacob Yerger prosecuted the case. The Billings Police Department, ATF and Montana Division of Criminal Investigation conducted the investigation.


title: Dunnellon Man Arrested for Threatening Communications to the NAACP

component: USAO - Florida, Middle

body_text: Ocala, Florida – Jeremiah James Schwier (47, Dunnellon) has been arrested and charged by criminal complaint with interstate transmission of a threat to injure. If convicted, Schwier faces a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison. United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement. According to the complaint, between April and May 2026, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) received approximately 60 telephone calls from phone numbers that were later determined to be associated with Schwier. Those calls were sexual in nature and used inflammatory language. On May 20, 2026, a caller with a similar voice told NAACP staff that he would walk into their office with an “AK 57, or whatever you call those things.” By August 2026, the NAACP received 14 similar calls threatening to kill former President Obama and the NAACP President and Chief Executive Officer. Federal investigators obtained Schwier’s cellphone records and confirmed that Schwier had made the calls to the specific NAACP phone number that had received the threats. The records also confirmed that the timing of numerous calls placed by Schwier were generally consistent with the threats received by the NAACP. Investigators arrested Schwier on August 26, 2026. He has been detained pending the resolution of the criminal case. A criminal complaint is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed a violation of the federal criminal laws, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty. This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Marion County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Angela M. Palacios.


title: Federal Jury Convicts Dothan Man of Meth Distribution and Illegal Firearm Possession

body_text: DOTHAN, Ala. — Today, United States Attorney Thomas Govan announced that a federal jury in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Alabama, sitting in Dothan, Alabama, convicted 37-year-old Pravin Dewayne Simpson of possessing methamphetamine with intent to distribute and possessing a firearm after having previously been convicted of a felony. The jury returned its verdict on August 27, 2026. According to evidence presented at trial, in July 2024, officers with the Dothan Police Department executed a search warrant at Simpson’s residence. During the search, officers located a firearm in his bedroom, along with a digital scale. Officers also discovered a container holding 10 small bags of methamphetamine, collectively weighing approximately 277 grams, inside a vehicle belonging to Simpson. Officers recovered an additional 18 grams of methamphetamine, 22 grams of cocaine, and a container of marijuana from the vehicle. Because Simpson has a prior felony conviction, federal law prohibits him from possessing a firearm or ammunition. The jury also found that Simpson had previously served a term of imprisonment of more than 12 months for a serious drug felony within 15 years of the 2024 offense. That finding triggers an enhanced penalty for the drug-trafficking offense and increases the mandatory minimum sentence. Simpson’s sentencing hearing will be scheduled for a later date. At sentencing, Simpson faces a sentence of 15 years to life in prison for possessing methamphetamine with intent to distribute. The firearm conviction carries a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison. The Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) and Dothan Police Department investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher P. Moore and Michael Bren McMaken prosecuted the case for the Middle District of Alabama.


title: Maryland Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Involuntary Manslaughter In Connection With Fatal Crash

component: USAO - Maryland

body_text: Baltimore, Maryland – A Maryland man pled guilty in federal court, today, stemming from a fatal car crash on the Baltimore-Washington (BW) Parkway that resulted in the death of a 48-year-old father of five. Vincent Antwonn Still, 59, of Hanover, pled guilty to involuntary manslaughter in connection with the fatal crash. Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the guilty plea with Chief Scott Brecht, United States Park Police (USPP). According to his guilty plea, on August 5, 2023, while Still drove northbound on the BW Parkway, he lost control of his car, striking one vehicle from behind, before crossing into the southbound lanes and striking the victim’s vehicle head-on, killing the victim. Prior to the crash, Still was driving at a high rate of speed and weaving through traffic. Following the crash, first responders transported Still to the University of Maryland Shock Trauma Center, where treating physicians noted a strong odor of alcohol. Approximately one hour after the accident, Still’s blood-alcohol level registered at a .259, making him under the influence of alcohol at the time of the crash. USPP subsequently examined the car’s event data recorder, which recorded that Still traveled 102 mph in a 55-mph zone shortly before the crash, with no use of the vehicle’s brakes. Still faces a maximum sentence of eight years in prison for involuntary manslaughter. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge determines sentencing after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the USPP for its work in the investigation, along with the Anne Arundel County Fire and Rescue, National Security Agency Police, and Howard County Fire and Rescue, for their valuable assistance. Ms. Hayes thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Colleen Elizabeth McGuinn and Ellen Nazmy who are prosecuting this federal case. For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit justice.gov/usao-md . # # #


title: Man Pleads Guilty to Charges Connected to Role in Technical-Support Fraud Scheme

body_text: Baltimore, Maryland – A man pled guilty in federal court, today, to charges stemming from his involvement in a technical-support fraud scheme. Priyanshu Walia, 41, of both Westminster, Maryland, and Cleveland, Ohio, pled guilty to wire fraud in connection with the scheme. Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the guilty plea with the Postal Inspector in Charge Eric Shen, U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) – Criminal Investigations Group, and Special Agent in Charge Akil Baldwin, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) – Maryland. According to his guilty plea, beginning in April 2017, and continuing through November 2021, Walia engaged in a conspiracy to defraud and obtain money by fraudulent pretenses in Maryland and elsewhere. Walia and his co-defendants, Kapil Gulati, 52, of Glen Burnie, Maryland, Amit Ahuja, 42, of Westminster, Maryland, and other co-conspirators, sought to enrich themselves by defrauding individuals, including older adults. As part of the scheme, the co-conspirators contacted victims through a pop-up window appearing on the victim’s computer directing them to call a phone number; an unsolicited phone call to victims; and a phone call initiated by a victim where they called a phone number they found online to connect with a legitimate technical support company. Additionally, in some instances, the co-conspirators caused the victims to receive pop-up windows with an audible alarm and messages that their device was “compromised” by a computer virus. Pop-up notifications also suggested that the victims contact a toll-free number staffed by individuals furthering the tech-support scheme. The co-conspirators claimed that they would install expensive and high-quality network security software to resolve a purported serious computer virus or other threats to the computer. But Walia’s co-defendants didn’t have special knowledge, technical training, or credentials to provide computer services or repairs. While engaging the victims on the phone, the co-conspirators emphasized the need for immediate action to pay money to fix the purported computer issues. The co-conspirators led the victims to falsely believe that the actions of the tech-support scheme were affiliated with legitimate computer companies and legitimate computer security companies. Walia and his co-defendants provided money processing services for their co-conspirators in India and developed a fee structure for each transaction. He also formed shell companies for his co-defendants and himself to use to open numerous bank accounts. Victims’ payments went to these bank accounts that Walia and his co-conspirators controlled. Their criminal conduct caused more than $5 million, but less than $15 million in losses, affecting more than 1,000 victims. Walia received at least $80,000, in connection with the scheme. Walia is facing up to 20 years in federal prison for wire fraud. Ahuja and Gulati previously pled guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and are awaiting sentencing dates. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district judge determines sentencing after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the USPIS and HSI for their work in the investigation. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew P. Phelps and Philip Motsay who are prosecuting the case. For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to report fraud, please visit justice.gov/usao-md and justice.gov/usao-md/report-fraud . # # #


title: DC Man Convicted of Third Federal Drug-Trafficking Crime in HSTF Case

body_text: Baltimore, Maryland – A federal jury convicted a Washington, DC, man of multiple drug-trafficking and firearm crimes. The jury found Ronthony Ward, 60, guilty of conspiracy to distribute cocaine; possession with intent to distribute cocaine, fentanyl, heroin, and phencyclidine; possession of a firearm by a prohibited person; and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime. Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the guilty verdict with Acting Special Agent in Charge Shane K. Todd, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) – Washington Division; Special Agent in Charge Akil Baldwin, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) – Maryland; Special Agent in Charge Kareem A. Carter, Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), Washington, D.C. Field Office; Commissioner Richard Worley, Baltimore Police Department (BPD); Chief Robert McCullough, Baltimore County Police Department (BCPD); and Secretary Carolyn J. Scruggs, Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services (DPSCS). During the four-day trial, the evidence showed that Ward was a member of a large-scale drug- trafficking operation based in Prince George’s County, Maryland. In August 2023, while investigating a suspected Baltimore cocaine trafficker, DEA investigators tracked the intended target from Baltimore to a remote parking lot in National Harbor, Maryland. The target met with two unknown men in an SUV. Since investigators didn’t know who the other men were, they ran the vehicle’s registration and learned it was registered to Ward. Following the five-minute meeting, the target drove back to Baltimore as investigators followed. The target led investigators to a Baltimore apartment complex where he removed three duffle bags. Investigators then approached the target and observed drugs through a rip in one of the bags. Law enforcement arrested the target and discovered 43 kilograms of cocaine stuffed in the bags. After law enforcement learned that the drugs came from Ward’s drug operation, the DEA began investigating Ward. Investigators then identified a Fort Washington, Maryland residence as the drug operation’s stash house. The residence is also where Ward lived with his minor child. Additionally, Ward and his minor child were present when investigators found two loaded firearms on the top of a refrigerator and another firearm on the kitchen floor during a search. Ward is prohibited from possessing firearms due to two prior drug-related felony convictions. During the search, law enforcement also discovered 63 grams of fentanyl powder on a kitchen counter; additional fentanyl and 68 grams of heroin inside of a kitchen freezer; 125 grams of cocaine inside his bedroom closet; and a drug ledger in the basement documenting the 43-kilogram cocaine transaction on August 30. Investigators also searched Ward’s car and found additional fentanyl powder packaged in small baggies, counterfeit oxycodone pills that contained fentanyl, phencyclidine, and additional cocaine packaged in small baggies. Ward is facing life imprisonment with a mandatory minimum of five years for possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime, which shall be imposed consecutive to any other sentence. He also faces an additional mandatory minimum of five years in connection with his drug-trafficking counts, which are punishable up to 40 years, and up to 15 years for the unlawful firearm charge. Sentencing is scheduled for Wednesday, December 2, at 3 p.m. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge determines sentencing after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. This prosecution is part of the 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 Baltimore is comprised of agents and officers from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI); Homeland Security Investigations (HSI); the United States Attorney’s Office (USAO) for the District of Maryland; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF); the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA); the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI); the United States Marshals Service (USMS); the Washington/Baltimore HIDTA (W/B HIDTA); the Maryland State Police (MSP); the Baltimore Police Department (BPD); and the Baltimore County Police Department (BCPD) with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland. U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the DEA, HSI, IRS, BPD, BCPD, and DPSCS for their work in the investigation. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Calvin C. Miner and Stanton M.B. Lawyer who are prosecuting the federal case, and recognized Paralegal Specialist Briana Scarborough, for her assistance and legal support. For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit www.justice.gov/usao-md . # # #


title: Former Watertown Housing Authority Executive Director to Repay Funds Stolen from Housing Authority

component: USAO - Massachusetts

body_text: BOSTON – The former Executive Director of the Watertown Housing Authority (WHA) has agreed to return more than $6,200 to the WHA stemming from his theft of the funds which he used to fund his bathroom renovation. Michael Lara, 41, of Norwood, Mass., was charged with one count of wire fraud. Under the terms of the Deferred Prosecution Agreement (DPA), Lara has agreed to repay over $6,200 stolen from WHA, resign from his current position as the Executive Director of the Newton Housing Authority and not commit a new violation of federal criminal law for six months According to court filings, Lara was the Executive Director of WHA and president of both the Watertown Housing Development Corporation (WHDC) and WHDC Holdings, LLC from July 2019 to January 2025. As the Executive Director, Lara had access to WHA’s charge account with Home Depot as well as WHDC’s credit cards. According to the WHA policy, WHA credit cards can only be used for the purchases of goods and services that are the official business of the Watertown Housing Authority. Despite the policy, Lara made a series of personal purchases beginning in 2022 using WHA and WHDC funds. Specifically, in 2023, Lara began a master bathroom renovation and used WHA and WHDC funds to buy fixtures for his bathroom, including the following: $322.94 at Home Depot on Nov. 7, 2023 for items including a robe hook, bathroom faucet and towel ring; $3,160.69 at Moniques Bath Showroom on Nov. 8, 2023 for items including a rain shower head for $443, a shower valve trim for $413 and a thermostatic mixing valve for $488; $1,639.00 at Home Depot on Nov. 13, 2023 for a bathroom vanity and mirror; $188.00 at Home Depot on Nov. 24, 2023 for items including another bath faucet; and $149.94 at Home Depot on Dec. 4, 2023 for two vanity lights. To conceal that the purchases were for his bathroom renovation, Lara often caused the purchases to be fraudulently labeled as “705,” to imply that the purchases were for a specific kind of WHA housing called Chapter 705 rentals. Between November 2023 and January 2024, Lara sent his personal contractor text messages regarding his home renovation, including directing the contractor to install the fixtures Lara purchased at Home Depot and Moniques Bath Showroom using WHA and WHDC funds. On Dec. 17, 2023, Lara sent a picture of his master bathroom to another individual. The picture included the installed vanity lights, bathroom vanity and faucet fixtures – all of which were purchased using WHA’s charge account at Home Depot. The picture also included the shower stall, with the shower fixtures, which were purchased using WHDC’s credit card. In 2024, state authorities launched an investigation into Lara’s improper use of WHA funds and sent WHA a series of requests for information. As the Executive Director of WHA at the time, Lara was not only was aware of the requests, he also responded to the requests. This included an Aug. 20, 2024 request for WHA’s policies and procedures governing the use of credit cards; a list of WHA credit card purposes; and a list of all WHA employees with credit card access. After learning of the state investigation, Lara removed the fixtures that he had purchased using the WHA charge account and WHDC’s credit card. During a federal search warrant of Lara’s residence in June 2026, it was revealed that he had installed a new bathroom vanity, mirrors, shower fixtures and sink fixtures, but had kept the vanity lights. United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by the Massachusetts Office of Inspector General. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lucy Sun of the Public Corruption & Special Prosecutions Unit is prosecuting the case.


title: U.S. Attorney’s Office Collects $13,102,601 in Civil and Criminal Actions in Fiscal Year 2025

component: USAO - Kansas

body_text: KANSAS CITY, KAN. - U.S. Attorney Ryan A. Kriegshauser announced that the District of Kansas (USAO-KS) collected $13,102,601 in criminal and civil actions in Fiscal Year 2025. Of this amount, $12,029,108 was collected in criminal actions and $1,073,493 was collected in civil actions. Additionally, the USAO-KS worked with other U.S. Attorney’s Offices and components of the Department of Justice to collect an additional $30,886 in cases pursued jointly by these offices. Of this amount, $17,240 was collected in criminal actions and $13,646 was collected in civil actions. U.S. Attorney Ryan A. Kriegshauser said, “From recovering restitution for victims to using forfeiture procedures to eliminate the capacity of criminals to function, the forfeiture and financial litigation functions of our office are central to our mission. We will use all of the powerful tools available to us to seek justice for victims and recover funds owed to the United States.” Here are some of the significant recoveries made during FY 2025 with links to detailed case descriptions: • Shan Hanes – recovered $8,370,553.47. A majority of the $8 million was recovered through a forfeiture of funds traced to a blockchain virtual currency address. The remaining funds are attributed to turnover of real estate sales proceeds and garnishment of accounts. • Nagy Shehata – recovered $428,901.45. Prior to Shehata’s criminal conviction, the Asset Forfeiture Division initiated a forfeiture action against various properties, including real property owned by him and his wife in Overland Park that he purchased with crime proceeds. The property sold in May 2025, with the United States receiving $428,901.45. These funds were turned over to the District Court Clerk for payment on the restitution owed to the victim. • Kirk and Lynn Ritter – recovered $227,567.49. The Ritters were sentenced in January 2025 to charges of wire fraud and theft of government funds. They were ordered to pay $216,067.49 in restitution, $11,000 in fines, and $400 in assessments. They voluntarily paid the restitution amount in full prior to sentencing and paid the remaining fines and assessments shortly thereafter. The U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, along with the department’s litigating divisions, are responsible for enforcing and collecting civil and criminal debts owed to the U.S. and criminal debts owed to federal crime victims. The law requires defendants to pay restitution to victims of certain federal crimes who have suffered a physical injury or financial loss. While restitution is paid to the victim, criminal fines and felony assessments are paid to the department’s Crime Victims Fund, which distributes the funds collected to federal and state victim compensation and victim assistance programs. Additionally, the U.S. Attorney’s office in Kansas, working with partner agencies and divisions, collected $34,857,365 in asset forfeiture actions in FY 2025. Forfeited assets deposited into the Department of Justice Assets Forfeiture Fund are used to restore funds to crime victims and for a variety of law enforcement purposes. ###


title: Missouri man who had methamphetamine in rental car sentenced to prison

body_text: TOPEKA, KAN. – A Missouri man was sentenced to 240 months in prison for transporting methamphetamine across state lines. According to court documents, Jason James Jones, 39, of Cape Girardeau, Missouri, pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. In May 2023, a Geary County Sheriff’s deputy stopped Jones while he was driving a rental car through Kansas. During a search, law enforcement found what was later confirmed by a laboratory to be 2.2 kilograms of methamphetamine. Jones admitted he was taking the methamphetamine to Missouri with the intention of distributing it. “Drug trafficking creates a significant threat to public safety. A recent study by the Midwest High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area indicates that methamphetamine has upended fentanyl as the number one contributor to violent crime and property crime in the region,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan A. Kriegshauser. “The 2026 HIDTA Threat Assessment also showed most of the methamphetamine coming in is produced in Mexico and brought by people driving privately owned vehicles.” The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and Geary County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lindsey Debenham prosecuted the case. ###


title: FBI investigation leads to five Venezuelan nationals pleading guilty to attempting to jackpot Kansas ATMs

body_text: TOPEKA, KAN – After a Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) investigation, five Venezuelan nationals admitted guilt in attempting to steal U.S. currency from automated teller machines (ATMs). U.S. Attorney Ryan A. Kriegshauser is encouraging banks and other financial institutions to take a proactive approach to guard against a criminal activity known as “jackpotting”, which is becoming more prevalent. Jackpotting involves installing malware into an ATM to force it to dispense sizeable amounts of money. According to an FBI report released in February 2026, crimes involving ATM jackpotting are increasing across the country. The FBI reports 1,900 incidents since 2020. In 2025 alone, there were over 700 incidents with more than $20 million in losses. According to court documents, Luis Alberto Velasquez-Artigas, 27, Royder Adrian Figuera-Perez, 29, Javier Mejia, Jr, 27, Gabriel Alexjandro Corales-Garcia, 33, and Italo Lizandro Corrales-Carrillo, 26, all pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit bank larceny. In December 2025, the defendants traveled from Indiana to Kansas to attempt to steal cash from ATMs in Wamego and Manhattan through jackpotting. Their plan was for one conspirator to physically install the malware into the ATMs then later for the group to remotely activate a command causing the ATMs to dispense cash that they would go collect. The conspirators were unsuccessful in installing the malware on the ATM in Wamego, but their attempts at installing the malware triggered the alarm causing law enforcement to respond, and the culprits didn’t return to the site. In Manhattan, the group was equally unsuccessful in getting the ATM to dispense money. Both attempted thefts were captured by surveillance cameras, and the perpetrators were arrested a few days later. “Jackpotting bandits are sweeping the nation. This particular group’s strategy was to specifically target ATMs they thought were by design more vulnerable to malware,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan A. Kriegshauser. “Fortunately, there is technology to help thwart jackpotting. We at the U.S. Attorney’s Office encourage banks and other financial institutions to invest in these updates, and we’re happy to answer questions about how to do so.” "This case highlights a growing trend the FBI and our law enforcement partners are seeing nationwide involving a scheme known as 'jackpotting'. In these attacks, criminal actors exploit vulnerabilities in ATM technology to access and steal the cash contained inside the machines - often without legitimate transactions ever taking place, leaving financial institutions to determine how and where the funds were taken,” said Chris Ormerod, FBI Kansas City Special Agent in Charge. “The FBI will continue to identify and expose these schemes, work closely with our private-sector and law enforcement partners to strengthen defense, and pursue those responsible,” said Ormerod. “Criminals should know that innovative methods of theft will not shield them from accountability. We will use every available investigative tool to disrupt these schemes, protect our communities, and hold those responsible accountable." Velasquez-Artigas was sentenced to nine months in prison. The other defendants are awaiting sentencing. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jared Maag prosecuted the case. ###


title: Philadelphia Man Who Robbed Two Banks in One Day Sentenced to 78 Months in Prison

body_text: PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that Khalil Lee, 47, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was sentenced today to six and a half years in prison, three years’ supervised release, and $2,015 in restitution by United States District Judge Paul S. Diamond for robbing two city banks the same day. In July of last year, the defendant was charged by indictment with the June 2, 2025, robberies of Citizens Bank branches on the 2000 block of South Broad Street and the 8000 block of Germantown Avenue. He pleaded guilty to both in April. In addition to the two charged robberies, Lee also admitted to the July 28, 2025, attempted robbery of the Citizens Bank branch on the 6000 block of Ridge Avenue and the robbery of the WSFS Bank branch on the 5800 block of Ridge Avenue, which he committed later that day. This case was investigated by the FBI Philadelphia Violent Crimes Task Force and the Philadelphia Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Thomas M. Zaleski.


title: Lancaster Man Who Defrauded Investors Out of More Than $750,000 Sentenced to Over Six Years in Prison

body_text: PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that Matthew James Addy, 47, of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, was sentenced today to 75 months in prison, three years of supervised release, a $1,000 fine, $1,600 special assessment, and restitution of $755,995 by United States District Judge John M. Gallagher, for schemes through which the defendant defrauded investors out of hundreds of thousands of dollars. The defendant was charged by indictment in October of last year and pleaded guilty this April to 13 counts of wire fraud, one count of bank fraud, and two counts of aggravated identity theft. As detailed in court filings and admitted to by the defendant, Addy held himself out as a wealthy and successful businessman, entrepreneur, and investor, to induce investors and potential investors to make investments and loans to him. From approximately January 2020 to July 2022, Addy made misrepresentations to investors and prospective investors about both his personal financial position, falsely claiming a significant net worth, and his business and entrepreneurial experience, mischaracterizing the financial results of the purported consulting business that he claimed to operate, “the Yarah Group.” As the defendant admitted, he induced one victim (“Victim 1”) to hire him to operate Victim l’s business (“Company 1”), and to make multiple loans to, and investments in, “the Yarah Group,” which Addy falsely claimed was based in Beverly Hills, California, and worth approximately $200 million. Further, Addy applied for and received loans in the name of Victim 1’s other business, without the knowledge or consent of Victim 1, giving the lenders Victim 1’s identifying information, signing in the name of Victim 1, and listing Victim 1 as the guarantor of the loans. Addy then failed to repay these loans. In all, Addy defrauded Victim 1 of approximately $722,496. As Addy also admitted, from about April 2023 to June 2023, he schemed to defraud a second victim (“Victim 2”), with whom Addy had socialized. Addy claimed to Victim 2 that he was a diamond dealer and had made his first million dollars by the time he turned 30 years old. Addy induced Victim 2 to make a short-term loan to a contractor through Addy’s purported company “Yarah Holdings PLC,” promising that if Victim 2 funded approximately $25,000 of a bridge loan, “Yarah Holdings PLC” would repay Victim 2 $30,000 a short time later. Instead of a bridge loan to a contractor, Addy spent Victim 2’s money, $25,000, for unauthorized purposes, including his own personal benefit, and, despite having signed a promissory note, did not repay Victim 2. Separately, Addy defrauded a federal credit union headquartered in Pennsylvania, depositing a check in the amount of approximately $8,500, drawn on Company 1’s bank account, into his own account. The same day, across two transactions, Addy withdrew the face value of the check in cash. A few days later, the credit union received notice that the check had been returned due to insufficient funds. When called by the credit union’s fraud investigator on a recorded line, Addy made false statements about the bounced check he had deposited. Addy never repaid the credit union for the approximately $8,500 that he had taken by fraud. This case was investigated by FBI Philadelphia’s Capital Area Resident Agency and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Mary E. Crawley.


title: Area Political Consultant Pleads Guilty to Tax Crimes

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Eastern

body_text: PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that William F. Dunbar Sr., 42, of Pennsburg, Pennsylvania, entered a plea of guilty this afternoon before United States District Judge Kelley Brisbon Hodge to two counts of tax evasion, one count of making and subscribing a false tax return, and one count of aiding and assisting the presentation of false tax returns. Dunbar was charged with those offenses by information, arising from his evading the assessment of taxes and filing of six years of false returns for himself and Person #1. As detailed in court filings and statements, the defendant, a political consultant, has owned and operated Dunbar Public Affairs & Associates (“DPAA”), a political consulting firm in Philadelphia, from 2022 to the present. For each of the tax years 2019 through 2024, Dunbar annually prepared and filed federal and state individual income tax returns for himself and Person #1, his spouse, through TurboTax, the online tax preparation service. Each of the tax returns contained a written declaration that it was made under the penalties of perjury. However, each of the tax returns contained material falsehoods. In particular, Dunbar grossly and falsely inflated the gifts to charity on both his and Person #1’s returns and grossly and falsely inflated the business expenses on his returns. He did so for the purpose of evading the assessment of taxes as the false charitable gifts and business expenses eliminated, or substantially reduced, the tax liability on both his and Person #1’s returns and, in most years, generated tax refunds for them. The stipulated total tax loss to the United States from the false returns for defendant Dunbar and Person #1 from 2019 through 2024 was between $350,000 and $750,000. The defendant is scheduled to be sentenced on January 11 and faces a maximum possible term of 16 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a $1,000,000 fine. Full restitution also may be ordered. 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. This case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation and the FBI and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Louis D. Lappen.


title: Illegal Alien Indicted in Marriage-Related Immigration Fraud

component: USAO - North Carolina, Eastern

body_text: RALEIGH, N.C. - On August 25, a federal grand jury indicted Miguel Angel Olivera‑Borda, 38, a Peruvian national illegally present in the United States, after reviewing evidence presented by federal prosecutors. The indictment alleges that Olivera‑Borda knowingly made false statements in his application to become a lawful permanent resident of the United States, a process that requires applicants to provide accurate information about their personal history and marital status. Prosecutors further allege that Olivera‑Borda falsely claimed in 2026 that he continued to reside with his United States citizen wife, even though the couple allegedly separated in 2020 and never re‑established a bona fide marital relationship. If convicted, Olivera-Borda faces a maximum penalty of up to 20 years in prison. Ellis Boyle, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, made the announcement. Homeland Security Investigations is investigating the case. A copy of this press release is located on our website . Related court documents and information are located on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:26-CR-169-FL-BM. An indictment is merely an accusation. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.


title: U.S. Attorneys and Department of Justice Join Departments of Transportation and Homeland Security and White House Fraud Task Force to Launch Historic Interagency Effort to Crack Down on Fraud in Trucking Industry

component: USAO - Michigan, Eastern

body_text: DETROIT — Eight U.S. Attorneys and the Department of Justice (DOJ) today joined Secretary Sean P. Duffy of the Department of Transportation (USDOT) and Secretary Markwayne Mullin of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) — as well as Administrator Derek Barrs of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and Vice Chairman Andrew Ferguson of the White House Task Force to Eliminate Fraud — to announce a historic interagency effort to crack down on fraud in the trucking industry. Federal officials were also joined by Marcus Coleman and his daughter Dalilah , who was critically injured in a 2024 crash with an illegal alien behind the wheel. “The safety of American roadways affects everyone across the country,” said Attorney General Todd Blanche. “Foreigners and illegal aliens have exploited America’s trucking industry, often putting unqualified, improperly trained, non-English speaking drivers on our highways. Some may be hauling drugs or weapons for international crimes networks. The drivers and companies that allow for this dangerous activity will no longer get a pass. The Department of Justice is proud to join federal, state, and local partners in Joint Task Force Crossroads for America to dismantle the fraud schemes harming American truckers, drivers and community safety. Together, we will prosecute culprits, and protect America’s roads.” “USDOT has spent the last year-and-a-half strengthening the rules of the road and removing dangerous foreign drivers from our trucking industry,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy. “To fully root out the scourge of fraud, hold criminals accountable, and restore safety, we need the support of federal law enforcement. I am so grateful for President Trump raising the alarm on this issue, and to Vice President Vance for leading the charge to crack down on fraud nationwide. From states failing to follow the law to shady training schools and illicit companies, together we will tackle every link in the chain.” “Thanks to the recklessness of sanctuary politicians, there is a growing and alarming trend of illegal aliens being granted commercial driver’s licenses. Many of them don’t speak English or understand the rules of the road, and yet they’re driving among us, endangering our loved ones,” said U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin. “As a result, far too many Americans have lost their lives because an illegal alien was behind the wheel. Under the strong leadership of President Trump, DHS and ICE are delivering on our mission to protect Americans by taking these dangerous threats OFF our roadways and getting them OUT of our country. Additionally, our partnership with the Department of Transportation will help root out CDL fraud so that illegal aliens are no longer able to obtain CDLs and put American lives at risk. The Trump Administration will ALWAYS put the American people first.” “Here’s a basic concept: Americans have a right to feel safe on the roads their taxes pay for. Unfortunately, the previous administration disagreed and turned a blind eye to criminal enterprises that allowed drivers who couldn’t pass a basic English test to obtain a commercial driver’s license,” said White House Fraud Task Force Executive Director Scott Brady. “That ends today thanks to the leadership of Vice President Vance, who is focused on protecting American lives on our nation’s roadways.” “Criminals who exploit our nation’s transportation systems through fraud and deception are not only breaking the law–they are putting the safety and security of the American public at risk,” said Homeland Security Investigations Acting Executive Associate Director John A. Condon. “HSI will bring the full weight of our investigative authorities, financial expertise and global law enforcement capabilities to this historic, whole-of-government effort. Alongside our federal partners we will aggressively pursue the individuals and criminal networks that use fraudulent documents, illicit financial schemes and other unlawful means to circumvent our laws and profit at the expense of public safety.” The U.S. Attorneys joining Secretaries Duffy and Mullin and others to make today’s announcement were: U.S. Attorney Jerome Gorgon for the Eastern District of Michigan; U.S. Attorney Adam Mildred for the Northern District of Indiana; U.S. Attorney Tim Verhey for the Western District of Michigan; U.S. Attorney David Toepfer for the Northern District of Ohio; U.S. Attorney Dominick Gerace for the Southern District of Ohio; U.S. Attorney Tom Wheeler for the Southern District of Indiana; U.S. Attorney Steven Weinhoeft for the Southern District of Illinois; and U.S. Attorney Greg Gilmore for the Central District of Illinois. Building on Vice President Vance’s agenda to root out fraud across the country, the coalition announced the Joint Task Force Crossroads of America — a multi-state partnership to secure our highways and strengthen border security. Partnering across federal, state, and local agencies, the Task Force will target criminal networks and fraud to reduce highway fatalities and protect Americans. Actions Include: DOJ Formation of Joint Task Force Crossroads of America to safeguard the nation’s highway system and strengthen the security of our borders. USDOT Emergency removal of 110 commercial driver’s license (CDL) schools associated with more than 5,000 drivers who failed English language proficiency tests Launching a nationwide audit of third-party CDL skills testers and states’ oversight of the testers Results from 40-state investigation of additional training schools DHS Synchronized single-day sweep targeting more than 200 training schools across 23 states Joint coordination with USDOT HSI and ICE updates on ongoing investigations targeting CDL-related businesses and schools This unprecedented interagency campaign represents the Trump Administration's most aggressive effort in history to root out fraud, waste, and abuse in trucking. By aligning USDOT’s regulatory authorities with federal law enforcement operations, the administration is taking aggressive action to safeguard American roads against unqualified and unvetted illegal truckers. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE OPERATIONS Today, the Department of Justice is announcing the formation of the Joint Task Force Crossroads of America. This multi-state Task Force is being formed to safeguard the nation’s highway system and strengthen the security of our borders. The Task Force teams up the United States Attorney’s Offices in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio with our state and local enforcement, prosecutors, and federal partners including the Department of Transportation, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, FBI, DEA, HSI, ICE, and ATF. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION OPERATIONS In the past year-and-a-half, USDOT has knocked over 28,000 drivers off our roads for failing to speak English, forced states to cancel over 30,000 licenses illegally issued to foreign drivers, and purged over 8,000 unqualified training schools from our FMCSA registry. In July, the Department announced a partnership with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to further crack down on fraudulent and illegal practices in CDL schools. Today, FMCSA announced three enforcement actions to stop fraudulent commercial driver training and testing practices that have allowed drivers not proficient in English to operate commercial vehicles. Action I: The Emergency Removal of Training Providers FMCSA reviewed roadside inspection records for commercial drivers cited for not meeting English Language Proficiency (ELP) requirements. The agency then compared those drivers with records in the Training Provider Registry (TPR) to identify training providers that repeatedly certified drivers who did not meet federal qualification standards. FMCSA will now execute the emergency removal of more than 110 Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT) providers from the TPR. These providers must immediately cease all operations as a training provider, including administering curricula, utilizing facilities for instruction, and conducting behind-the-wheel training. Action II: Performing Targeted Investigations and Proposing Removals In July, FMCSA sent 175 investigators in 40 states to conduct nearly 400 investigations of ELDT providers. The investigations uncovered several serious cases of non-compliance: Inadequate Space: The range did not have adequate space to complete necessary maneuvers. Unlicensed Instructors: The instructor did not have the correct license to conduct the training. Missing Documentation: The facility did not maintain records of any assessments. Fraudulent Classrooms: The training provider claimed their classroom was inside of a school bus in the back of a trailer when asked about where their classroom instruction took place. These targeted efforts resulted in more than 160 notices of proposed removals from FMCSA’s TPR. Drivers certified by these 160+ ELDT providers are linked to 239 commercial motor vehicle-related fatalities. Action III: Conducting a Nationwide Audit of Third-Party Skills Testers CDL skills tests must be given in English, yet more than 28,000 drivers have been placed out of service for ELP violations since June 2025, showing clear compliance failures among third-party testers and a failure by states to conduct effective oversight of the third-party testers. FMCSA can hold states accountable for authorizing testers who fail federal requirements. If a state’s CDL program is non-compliant, the following process applies: Annual Program Review: FMCSA conducts a yearly review of each state's CDL program. Preliminary Finding: If deficiencies are found, FMCSA issues a formal notification of noncompliance to the state's Governor and State Driver Licensing Agency (SDLA). State's Response Window: The state has 30 days to create a mutually agreed-upon Corrective Action Plan (CAP) detailing how it will fix the issues. Final Determination & Consequences: If the state fails to correct the problems, FMCSA issues a final determination of substantial noncompliance. This triggers a mandatory withholding of federal highway funds, starting at up to 4% in the first year and increasing to 8% for each subsequent year of noncompliance. Decertification: For serious issues, FMCSA may begin the decertification process. A decertified state cannot issue, renew, transfer, or upgrade any CDLs. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY OPERATIONS HSI, in conjunction with U.S. Attorney Office and U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is leading a national criminal investigation initiative targeting public safety vulnerabilities and criminal activity in the Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) and commercial trucking sector. The initiative focuses on CDL fraud, unauthorized employment, identity-document fraud, financial crime, money laundering, labor exploitation, and potential links to human smuggling, drug trafficking, and cartel activity. HSI activity includes: On August 31, 2026, HSI will conduct a synchronized surge at more than 200 driving schools across 23 Special Agent in Charge offices, targeting CDL-related businesses, schools, carriers, and employers. This surge will consist in the service of Notice of Inspections across 23 states. HSI, in coordination with USDOT FMCSA and USDOT OIG, disseminated over 1,000 CDL-related business leads stemming from known or suspect business engaged in unsafe practices on the roadways and transportation-sector exploitation. Field offices have issued more than 80 Notices of Inspection, opened multiple investigations, and identified indicators of fraudulent CDL issuance, unauthorized employment, identity fraud, shell companies, and broader transportation-sector exploitation. Ongoing HSI Investigations include: Unauthorized Employment : HSI is investigating a trucking company suspected of using B1/B2 visa holders for domestic cargo transport. To date, three drivers have been arrested and several firearms seized. DMV Employee CDL Fraud : HSI is investigating state motor vehicle employees suspected of accepting payments to help illegal aliens bypass driver’s license and CDL requirements. Investigators have arrested numerous subjects for official misconduct and misappropriation of state identification documents. Fatality-Linked I-9 Enforcement : HSI investigated a freight company linked to the fatality of a state law enforcement officer. CDL Medical Certification Fraud : HSI and USDOT-OIG are investigating medical practitioners suspected of improperly certifying medical exams required for illegal aliens to obtain CDLs. Labor Exploitation : HSI is investigating companies exploiting visa holders, engaging in visa fraud, labor exploitation, financial crimes, and drug trafficking associated with CDL businesses. Planned and ongoing Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) field activity includes: Miami Field Office: Coordinating a joint operation during the week of August 24 with Florida DOT, FMCSA, and the Office of Commercial Vehicle Enforcement. Chicago Field Office: Coordinating a joint operation with Indiana State Police from August 25-27 focused on weigh stations and including ERO/DOT officers. National Surge Operation: ERO anticipates conducting a nationwide surge operation on August 31, focusing on Maine, Michigan, and Wisconsin by coordinating a joint enforcement and inspection response with USDOT, leveraging both ERO officers and FMCSA-certified inspectors to conduct commercial vehicle enforcement activity and inspection checkpoints at separate locations. ERO is also conducting national and field-level enforcement efforts related to CDL holders and commercial transportation activity, including: Operation ICE Wall: A multi-stage enforcement operation targeting trucking companies and drivers with final orders, prior removals, or reinstatements of prior removal orders. Operation Guardrail: An initiative focused on illegal aliens holding commercial driver’s licenses. Operation Freightliner: An ERO Public Safety and Partnership Division-led operation across ERO areas of responsibility with active 287(g) partners. This operation uses an intergovernmental approach, coordinating with federal and 287(g) partners to locate, interdict, and identify aliens operating commercial vehicles in violation of the law. The Task Force seeks to enhance roadway safety; reduce fatalities, serious injuries, and criminal activity; deter illegal trucking practices; promote consistent, data‑driven enforcement strategies across jurisdictions; and hold accountable those who would harm the United States and its citizens. -###-


title: Life Sentence for Wilmington Kidnapper and Murderer Affirmed on Appeal

body_text: WILMINGTON, Del. – On August 27, 2026, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit summarily affirmed the conviction and life sentence of Kimon Burton-Roberson, 32, of Wilmington, for a brutal, gang-related kidnapping and murder. Burton-Roberson, a member of the Shotgun Crips street gang, pleaded guilty in December 2024 to conspiracy to commit kidnapping, and Chief U.S. District Judge Colm F. Connolly sentenced him to life in prison in December 2025. The Third Circuit’s decision ensures that Burton-Roberson will spend the remainder of his life in federal custody. According to court documents and trial evidence, Burton-Roberson and several gangmates invaded the home of a 35-year-old Wilmington resident in July 2021. The gang beat and bound the victim, and drove him across state lines to Yeadon, Pennsylvania, where Burton-Roberson executed him with an assault rifle before attempting to destroy forensic evidence. “Kimon Burton-Roberson stole a man’s life in a brutal act of gang violence,” said U.S. Attorney Benjamin L. Wallace. “We are gratified by the decision of the Third Circuit, which, we hope, will bring closure to the victim’s family and broader community. This now-final life sentence is a message to Delaware’s street gangs: gang violence can strip you of your freedom for life, and where justice requires that outcome, we will fight for it until the final bell.” “Protecting our communities, crushing violent crime, and holding dangerous offenders accountable are some of the FBI’s highest priorities. This decision reaffirms gang violence will be severely punished,” said FBI Baltimore Special Agent in Charge Jimmy Paul. “I am proud of the work of our police officers and our partner agencies, who worked collaboratively to deliver justice on behalf of the victim in this case,” said Wilmington Police Major Andrea Janvier, who oversees investigative operations for the agency. “We also appreciate the efforts of our partners at the United States Attorney's Office, who worked tirelessly to ensure the defendant received the harshest penalty possible.” The investigation was led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Delaware Violent Crime and Safe Streets Task Force, alongside the Wilmington Police Department, the Yeadon Borough Police Department, the Pennsylvania State Police, and Delaware Probation and Parole. U.S. Attorney Benjamin L. Wallace defended the conviction and sentence on appeal. The case was prosecuted in the District Court by U.S. Attorney Wallace and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michelle L. Morgan and Kevin P. Pierce. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Delaware. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the District of Delaware or on PACER by searching for Case No. 22-CR-17-CFC.


title: Capitol Hill Armed Robber Gets 16.5 Years in Prison

component: USAO - District of Columbia

body_text: WASHINGTON – Dereon Butler, 19, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced to 16.5 years in prison after pleading guilty to his participation in an armed robbery spree that occurred in December 2024, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. “This defendant was just 17 years old when he and his co-conspirators drove into a Capitol Hill neighborhood and deliberately targeted innocent residents to rob,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “In all, eight people were held at gunpoint and ten were stripped of their valuables. This kind of violent conduct has no place in our community, and today, he is being held fully accountable.” Butler pleaded guilty in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, on June 4, 2026, to three counts of armed robbery. At the time of the offenses, Butler was charged as an adult pursuant to Title 16. Superior Court Judge Errol Arthur ordered Butler to serve the prison term to be followed by five years of supervised release. According to the government’s evidence, early in the morning, on December 2, 2024, Butler and his co-conspirators drove two stolen vehicles, a gray Kia Sorento and a red Lexus sedan, to a Capitol Hill neighborhood with plans to locate and target commuting pedestrians to rob them at gunpoint. In all, ten different unsuspecting pedestrians were approached, throughout numerous locations, and eight had a firearm brandished at them. These victims were robbed of their wallets, purses, cell phones, and other personal belongings. Butler fled the scene before police arrived. He was arrested on July 22, 2025, and has been in custody since. Joining in the announcement was Interim Chief Jeffery Carroll of the Metropolitan Police Department. In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Pirro and Interim Chief Carroll commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department. They also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Levy, who prosecuted the case. 2025 CF3 008425


title: Two Colombian Nationals Charged in Nationwide Jewelry Theft Ring Extradited to the U.S.

component: Criminal - Office of International Affairs

body_text: David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and P.J. O’Brien, Special Agent in Charge of the New Haven Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, today announced that two Colombian nationals have been extradited to the United States to face charges related to their alleged involvement in an organized jewelry theft ring that targeted mall-based stores and kiosks across the country. As alleged in court documents and statements made in court, from May 2023 through April 2024, ELVIS GUEVARA QUINTERO, JAIME TORRES CASTIBLANCO, and several other Colombian nationals burglarized jewelry stores and kiosks in malls in Connecticut and other states and then transported the stolen property or the proceeds from it across state lines. Before the burglaries, the co-conspirators surveilled the stores and kiosks to formulate game plans and, as part of that reconnaissance, posed as legitimate customers to examine the desired merchandise and assess the establishment’s security measures. During the burglaries, the co-conspirators forced their way into closed businesses, sometimes by cutting a hole through a wall, and then pried open and smashed locked display cases. They then carted off the stolen merchandise. It is alleged that Guevara Quintero, Torres Castiblanco, and their co-conspirators burglarized jewelry establishments in Paterson, New Jersey, on May 17, 2023; in Mentor, Ohio, on July 21, 2023; in Fort Wayne, Indiana, on August 14, 2023; in Greece, New York, on September 20, 2023; at the Connecticut Post Mall in Milford, Connecticut, on October 5, 2023; in Lombard, Illinois on October 17, 2023; in Hamilton Township, New Jersey, on October 27, 2023; in Henrico, Virginia on November 4, 2023; and in Horseheads, New York on April 18, 2024. Members of the conspiracy also cased additional jewelry stores and kiosks in Iowa, Indiana, Wisconsin, Illinois, and Delaware. The total losses from these burglaries exceed $4.4 million. To date, none of the stolen jewelry has been recovered by law enforcement. The investigation revealed that much of the stolen jewelry was sold to the owner of a jewelry store in Queens, New York , who then sold it to others, including those he knew would melt down the gold. On July 16, 2024, a federal grand jury in New Haven returned an indictment charging Guevara Quintero, 51, Torres Castiblanco, 51, and others , each with one count of conspiracy, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of five years, and one count of interstate transportation of stolen property, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years. Guevara Quintero and Torres Castiblanco were arrested by the Colombian authorities at the request of the United States on August 12, 2025, and have been detained since. On August 28, 2026, they appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert A. Richardson in Hartford and entered pleas of not guilty to the charges in the indictment. U.S. Attorney Sullivan stressed that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. This investigation has been conducted by the FBI New Haven’s Transnational Organized Crime Task Force with the assistance of the Milford (Conn.) Police Department, the Hamilton Township (N.J.) Police Division, the Delaware State Police, the Henrico County (Va.) Police Division, the New York State Police, the New York Police Department, the Pensacola (Fla.) Police Department, the Paterson (N.J.) Police Department, the Mentor (Ohio) Police Department, the Fort Wayne (Ind.) Police Department, the Greece (N.Y.) Police Department, and the Lombard (Ill.) Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney David T. Huang. U.S. Attorney Sullivan thanked the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida, and FBI Field Offices in New York, Dallas, Miami, and Tampa for their assistance. The Justice Department’s Judicial Attaché in Bogotá and Office of International Affairs and Colombian authorities provided significant assistance in securing the arrests and extradition of Guevara Quintero and Torres Castiblanco. 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 toward 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 Haven comprises agents and officers from the FBI, DEA, HSI, ATF, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, U.S. Department of Labor, and Connecticut State Police, with prosecutions led by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Connecticut.


title: Champaign Business Owner Charged with Tax Fraud and Wire Fraud Related to COVID Relief Funds

body_text: URBANA, Ill. – A Mahomet, Illinois, man, Hans Lee Grotelueschen, 56, has been charged with allegedly failing to pay employment taxes to the Internal Revenue Service and fraud related to Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) and the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) administered through the Small Business Administration (SBA). The information filed by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of Illinois charges Grotelueschen with nineteen separate counts of collecting employment taxes from the employees of his Champaign-based business, YG Financial Group PC, which included taxes for his employees’ Social Security and Medicare payments, but then failing to turn over those taxes, or pay the employer’s portion of those taxes, to the IRS. The information alleges that Grotelueschen failed to pay the employees’ share of employment taxes totaling $859,552.68 from 2018 through 2024. The information further charges Grotelueschen with one count of wire fraud for fraudulently obtaining and improperly using pandemic-era loans. The SBA used EIDLs and PPP loans to provide federal funds to small businesses that were directly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic to pay certain expenses, such as payroll costs, rent, utilities and mortgage interest. The programs were implemented by the SBA and administered by third-party lenders via the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (“CARES”) Act, an economic bill that passed in March 2020 in response to the economic fallout caused by the pandemic. The information alleges that Grotelueschen, through his businesses, YG Financial Group PC and YG Hotel Investors LLC, fraudulently obtained EIDLs and PPP loans and then used the proceeds for purposes not permitted by the SBA. Grotelueschen allegedly obtained forgiveness from the SBA for some of the loans by falsely certifying that he had used the loans for payroll costs. The information alleges that the fraudulent loans were obtained between April of 2020 and February of 2022 and totaled $1,727,245.78. Grotelueschen appeared in federal court in Urbana this week and was released on bond by U.S. Magistrate Judge Eric I. Long. A jury trial is scheduled for October 27, 2026, in Urbana. If convicted, the maximum statutory penalty for wire fraud is thirty years of imprisonment, five years of supervised release, full restitution, and up to a $1 million fine. The maximum statutory penalties for each count of failing to pay employment taxes are up to five years of imprisonment, three years of supervised release, full restitution, and up to a $10,000 fine. On April 7, 2026, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (“Fraud Division”). The Fraud Division is investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs. The case investigation was conducted by the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigations Division and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Supervisory Assistant U.S. Attorney Eugene L. Miller is representing the government in the prosecution. Members of the public are reminded that an information is merely an accusation; the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.


title: Santa Maria Labor Recruiter Sentenced to One Year in Prison for Lying to Government, Exploiting Farmworkers in Visa Fraud Scheme

component: USAO - California, Central

body_text: LOS ANGELES – A Santa Barbara County man was sentenced today to 12 months and one day in federal prison for illegally collecting tens of thousands of dollars in fees from Mexican nationals in exchange for visas permitting them to be employed as farmworkers in the United States, then paying them at a reduced rate for their work. Jorge Vasquez, 65, of Santa Maria, was sentenced by United States District Judge John F. Walter, who also ordered him to pay $165,157 in restitution. Vasquez pleaded guilty on June 24 to one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud. The H‑2A visa program allows U.S.-based agricultural employers to hire temporary foreign workers when they cannot find sufficient domestic labor. Labor contractors recruiting these workers are responsible for their recruitment, transportation, and housing, and are prohibited from charging workers for government approvals, required equipment, transportation, or housing. According to his plea agreement, Vasquez recruited foreign workers on H-2A visas to work at two entities he controlled – Cuyama Valley Farms LLC and JJB Farm LLC. Despite being prohibited from charging these workers fees, Vasquez charged farmworkers between $8,000 and $15,000 for their H‑2A visas. In total, Vasquez and his co-conspirators fraudulently recruited 162 foreign workers for H-2A visas. Vasquez and his co-conspirators then mailed applications for the H-2A visas to United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). As part of the applications, Vasquez falsely represented, among other things, that they did not seek or receive, or would not seek or receive, payments from prospective H-2A workers for visa fees or living expenses. They also represented that the H-2A workers would be paid a certain hourly rate, $19.50 for workers of JJB and $19.97 for workers of Cuyama. Based on these representations, USCIS granted H-2A visas to workers for Vasquez’s companies. These material representations were false because Vasquez charged the H-2A workers thousands of dollars for the H-2A visas and paid the workers at a reduced rate of pay. For example, in May 2025, Vasquez charged a worker $8,500 in exchange for an H-2A visa to work at JJB Farm. That same month, he charged another worker $7,500 in exchange for an H2A visa to work at JJB Farm. In July 2025, Vasquez charged another worker $5,000 in exchange for an H-2A visa to work at JJB Farm. In addition, Vasquez paid the H-2A workers at JJB $16.50 an hour – approximately $3.25 per hour less than what was represented to the government. For Cuyama, he paid H-2A workers approximately $16.00 – approximately $3.50 per hour less than what was represented to the government. The United States Department of Labor Office of Inspector General, the United States Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service, and Homeland Security Investigations investigated this matter with assistance from the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division, California Employment Development Department and United States Citizenship and Immigration Services – Fraud Detection National Security (FDNS). Assistant United States Attorney Neil Thakor of the Public Corruption and Civil Rights Section prosecuted this case.