DOJ Indictments

South Carolina Businessman Who Operated Bowling Entertainment Business in Massachusetts Pleads Guilty to $1.2 Million COVID Relief Fraud

BOSTON – A South Carolina businessman has pleaded guilty in federal court in Worcester to COVID relief fraud. Source: U.S. Department of Justice
Beckley Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Federal Drug Crime

BECKLEY, W.Va. – Sharee Woodson, 45, of Beckley, was sentenced on March 27, 2026, to 10 years in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release, for possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and a quantity of cocaine base, also known as “crack.”According to court documents and statements…
Arms Dealer Pleads Guilty to Conspiring to Export American Made Ammunition Used in War Against Ukraine

Earlier today, in federal court in Brooklyn, Italian national Manfred Gruber pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit export control violations. Gruber illegally exported ammunition worth over $540,000 from the United States to Kyrgyzstan, via companies that the defendant and his co-conspirator controlled in Italy. After reaching Kyrgyzstan, most of this ammunition was subsequently reexported to Russia. …
Maryland Man Sentenced to More Than 13 Years for Drug Trafficking and Unlawful Possession of Firearm and Ammunition

Greenbelt, Maryland – A Maryland man is headed to federal prison for more than a decade for possessing a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon and possessing drugs, some of which contained fentanyl. Source: U.S. Department of Justice
Meridian Man Pleads Guilty to Bribing Commercial Driver's License Skills Tester

Ryan Basnaw, 29, of Meridian, pleaded guilty to federal program bribery, U.S. Attorney Bart M. Davis announced. Source: U.S. Department of Justice
El Paso Man Pleads Guilty to Defrauding Investors as Third-Party NBA Preseason Game Promoter

Timothy France Johnson pleaded guilty in federal court to seven counts of wire fraud as part of a Ponzi scheme in which he represented to investors that he would use their funds to promote NBA preseason games Source: U.S. Department of Justice
Nevada Man Indicted for Attempted Child Sexual Exploitation and Receipt of Child Sexual Abuse Material

LAS VEGAS – A Nevada man made his initial appearance in court on Friday to face allegations of attempting to coerce children to produce sexually explicit content and receiving child sexual abuse material. Source: U.S. Department of Justice
Zuni Man Charged with Kidnapping

Barton Rico Cooeyate has been charged with kidnapping after allegedly sexually assaulting a woman he tricked into getting in his car by offering her a ride home. Source: U.S. Department of Justice
Five Charged in $3.5M Fraud and Money Laundering Scheme

CHARLESTON, S.C. — The United States District Court for the District of South Carolina has unsealed an indictment charging five individuals for their roles in a fraud and money laundering scheme that resulted in a cumulative loss of at least $3.5 million. Source: U.S. Department of Justice
Akron Man to Spend More Than 10 Years in Prison for Trafficking Meth and Fentanyl While Out on Parole

A Summit County man has been sentenced to prison for trafficking controlled substances and for having a pistol in his possession while he was out on parole. Source: U.S. Department of Justice
Oviedo Man Convicted of Attempting to Coerce and Entice a Minor to Engage in Sexual Activity

Orlando, Florida – A federal jury has found Rusbel Montoya Mandujano (32, Oviedo) guilty of attempting to coerce and entice a minor to engage in sexual activity. Montoya Mandujano faces a minimum penalty of 10 years, up to life, in federal prison. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for August 25, 2026. United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the…
Convicted Felon Sentenced in Possession of Stolen Handgun with Extended Magazine

Robert Geiger, 47, a previously convicted felon residing in the District of Columbia, was sentenced Friday to 33 months in prison for illegally possessing a loaded stolen handgun with an extended magazine, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. Source: U.S. Department of Justice
Worcester Man Sentenced to 30 Years in Prison for Sexually Exploiting Minors

BOSTON – A Worcester man has been sentenced for sexually exploiting three minor females. Source: U.S. Department of Justice
Illegal Alien with Serious Criminal History Sentenced to over 19 Years in Prison for Conspiracy to Traffic Fentanyl and Methamphetamine in Fresno County

Gilberto Arteaga, 43, of Michoacan, Mexico, illegally residing in Fresno, was sentenced today to 19 years and five months in prison for his role in a fentanyl and methamphetamine trafficking conspiracy. Source: U.S. Department of Justice
Kenton County Man Sentenced for Illegal Firearm Possession

COVINGTON, Ky. – A Crescent Springs, Ky., man, Quenton Abell, 22, was sentenced on Monday to 60 months in prison by Chief U.S. District Judge David Bunning for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. According to his plea agreement, law enforcement executed a search warrant on Abell’s residence in Kenton County on August 25, 2025,…
Naples Man Pleads Guilty to $1.2 Million Fraud and Money Laundering Scheme Targeting Elderly Hurricane Ian Victim

Fort Myers, Florida – Luis Emilio Hernandez (45, Naples) today pleaded guilty to two counts of wire fraud and six counts of money laundering in connection with a scheme to defraud an elderly victim following Hurricane Ian. Hernandez faces up to 20 years in federal prison for each wire fraud count and up to 10 years for…
Amherst Man Sentenced to Four Years in Prison for Possessing Enormous Child Pornography Collection

BOSTON – An Amherst, Mass. man has been sentenced in federal court in Springfield, Mass. for possessing more than 100,000 files of sexual abuse material (CSAM). The defendant possessed disturbing images of violent acts including a female being shot in the head, a cat in a blender and a dog being beaten to death. Source:…
Charlestown, Massachusetts Man Sentenced to 66 Months for Hobbs Act Robbery

Rutland, Vermont – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont stated that on March 27, 2026, Richard J. Vardenski, 57, of Charlestown, Massachusetts was sentenced by United States District Judge Mary Kay Lanthier to a term of 66 months’ imprisonment to be followed by a 3-year term of supervised release. Vardenski previously…
Treasurer for Maryland Candidate’s Political Campaigns Indicted on Embezzlement Charges

Baltimore, Maryland – Today, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland unsealed an indictment, charging a treasurer who works for several political candidates and organizations, in connection with an embezzlement scheme. James Appel, 58, of Annapolis, Maryland, is charged with wire fraud and money laundering. The indictment alleges that, in 2024, Appel stole approximately…
Foreign National Charged with Orchestrating Health Care Fraud Scheme Targeting Medicare Advantage Programs

SAN FRANCISCO – United States Attorney Craig H. Missakian announced criminal charges against an individual for perpetrating a large-scale fraud targeting federal health care funds distributed through the Medicare Advantage program Source: U.S. Department of Justice
Mexican man sentenced for illegal reentry

MISSOULA – A Mexican man who reentered the United States illegally was sentenced today to 18 months incarceration and 3 years of supervised release, Acting U.S. Attorney Tim Racicot said.Baldemar Duarte-Nieto, 47, pleaded guilty in November 2025 to one count of illegal reentry.U.S. District Judge Donald W. Molloy presided.The government alleged in court documents that on…
Man Indicted and Arrested for Kidnapping and Carjacking of a U.S. Postal Service Letter Carrier

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – On March 19, 2026, a federal grand jury in the District of Puerto Rico returned a four-count indictment charging a Guaynabo man with kidnapping and carjacking a United States Postal Service letter carrier. Source: U.S. Department of Justice
Former Placer County Resident Charged with Identity Theft and Fraudulently Obtaining More Than $110,000 in Social Security Benefits

A 12-count indictment was unsealed today following the arrest in Arizona of Richard Warren Ralston, 69, of Mesa, Arizona. He is charged with wire fraud, aggravated identity theft, and Social Security fraud. Source: U.S. Department of Justice
District of Arizona Charges 185 Individuals for Immigration-Related Criminal Conduct this Week

PHOENIX, Ariz. – During the week of enforcement operations from March 14 through March 20, 2026, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona brought immigration-related criminal charges against 185 individuals. Specifically, the United States filed 108 cases in which aliens illegally re-entered the United States, and the United States also charged 53 aliens…
Thomaston Resident Pleads Guilty to Border Patrol Assault

PORTLAND, Maine: A Thomaston resident pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Portland to assaulting a U.S. Border Patrol agent engaged in his official duties.According to court records, in August 2025, a United States Border Patrol agent responded to a one-vehicle crash in Washington, Maine. As law enforcement conducted a roadside investigation, Olivia Wilkins, 24,…
Florida Inmate Pleads Guilty to Distribution & Receipt of Child Pornography

Tallahassee, Florida – Edward G. Winn, 47, an inmate of the Florida Department of Corrections who is formerly of Sarasota, Florida, pleaded guilty in federal court to one count of distribution of child pornography and one count of receipt of child pornography. Source: U.S. Department of Justice
Federal Judge Sentences Suburban Chicago Man to Six and a Half Years in Prison for $3.3 Million Covid-Relief Fraud

U.S. Attorney Andrew S. Boutros is taking a fresh look at Covid-19 fraud. Source: U.S. Department of Justice
Los Angeles, California Man Sentenced to More Than 2 Years in Federal Prison for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance

United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that Chief Judge Roberto A. Lange, U.S. District Court, has sentenced a Los Angeles, California, man convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance. The sentencing took place on March 16, 2026. Source: U.S. Department of Justice
Detroit Man Sentenced for Role in Drug Trafficking Organization

A Detroit, Michigan man was sentenced today for his role in a drug trafficking operation that distributed methamphetamine and fentanyl in Harrison County, West Virginia, U.S. Attorney Matthew L. Harvey announced. Malik Rashard Fikes, also known as “Face,” was sentenced to 78 months in federal prison. Source: U.S. Department of Justice
Owner of Now-Closed Milwaukee Prenatal Care Coordination Company Sentenced to 60 Months’ Imprisonment for Healthcare Fraud Scheme

Brad D. Schimel, First Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on March 19, 2026, Lakia Jackson (age 36) was sentenced to 60 months’ incarceration for committing a healthcare fraud scheme through which she stole $2,655,463.63 from a Medicaid benefit meant to help at-risk pregnant women and women with young children.On…