DOJ Indictments

FORMER NEW YORK CITY REAL ESTATE DEVELOPER PLEADS GUILTY TO DEFRAUDING INVESTORS

United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, announced today that JOSHUA SCHUSTER pled guilty before U.S. District Judge Valerie E. Caproni to securities fraud for his role in a scheme to defraud investors in large real estate development projects located in New York City. Source: U.S. Department of Justice
Federal Charges Filed in a 30-Year-Old Cold Case Involving the Kidnapping and Murder of 7-Year-Old Morgan Violi

BOWLING GREEN, KY – A federal criminal complaint and arrest warrant were filed in U.S. District Court on February 26, 2026, charging Robert Scott Froberg, 61, with the 1996 abduction and death of 7-year-old Morgan Violi.U.S. Attorney Kyle G. Bumgarner of the Western District of Kentucky, FBI Special Supervisory Agent William Kurtz, Chief Michael Delaney of the…
New River Couple Convicted of $12 Million AHCCCS Fraud Scheme

PHOENIX, Ariz. – Thvoughn Lynden Curry, 34, and Alexis Daneen Curry, 34, both of New River, Arizona, were recently convicted in federal court based on their scheme to defraud the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS), Arizona’s Medicaid Agency, of over $12 million. Following a four-day bench trial before Senior U.S. District Judge G.…
Prior felon pleads guilty to gun and drug charges

U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Derrel Lemorn Moore, Jr. a/k/a Derrel Austin, 47, of Niagara Falls, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge John L. Sinatra, Jr. to possession with intent to distribute cocaine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, which carry a mandatory minimum penalty of five…
Mesa Residents Sentenced to Prison for Fraud Targeting AHCCCS

PHOENIX, Ariz. – Eric Riley, 39, and Britney Gooch, 38, both of Mesa, were recently sentenced by U.S. District Judge Krissa M. Lanham for defrauding the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS), Arizona’s Medicaid agency. Source: U.S. Department of Justice
Knox County Man Sentenced to 60 Years for Production of Child Pornography

LONDON, Ky. – A Corbin, Ky., man, Jerry Dunn, 60, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Robert Wier to 60 years in prison, following his previous conviction of five counts of production of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography.According to testimony at trial, in September 2022, Dunn engaged in the production of…
Cazenovia Man Pleads Guilty to Wire Fraud and Aggravated Identity Theft

SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Dean Dellas, age 41, of Cazenovia, New York, pled guilty on February 26, 2026, to wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. First Assistant United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III and Craig L. Tremaroli, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), made the…
Jackson Man Sentenced to 70 Months in Prison for Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon

Jackson, MS – A Jackson man was sentenced to 70 months in prison for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.According to court documents, Diquan Barnes, 32, was stopped by a Jackson Police Department officer after running a red light. A firearm was subsequently located in his vehicle. Barnes is prohibited by federal law…
Two Foreign Nationals Indicted After More Than 76 Kilograms of Hashish Seized at Miami International Airport

A federal grand jury returned indictments on Wednesday charging two foreign nationals after U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers seized more than 76 kilograms of hashish during outbound inspections at Miami International Airport (MIA). Source: U.S. Department of Justice
Twice-Convicted Felon Sentenced to 21 Months for Illegal Possession of a Firearm

Antonio Cook, 27, a twice-convicted felon residing in the District of Columbia, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 36 months in federal prison in connection with his illegal possession of a firearm while on supervised release. Source: U.S. Department of Justice
Business Owner Sentenced To Four Years In Prison For Multimillion-Dollar Ponzi Fraud Scheme

LAS VEGAS – A Las Vegas business owner was sentenced today to 48 months in prison for fraudulently obtaining nearly $4 million dollars from a food brokerage company. Source: U.S. Department of Justice
Two Alleged Tongan Crip Gang Members Face Firearm Charges Following Salt Lake City Shooting at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – An indictment was unsealed today charging two alleged Tongan Crip Gang Members (TCG), one of whom is a convicted felon, with firearm crimes following the January shooting at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) in Salt Lake City. Source: U.S. Department of Justice
Wichita business owner indicted for trafficking marijuana from his stores

A Kansas businessman made his initial appearance after a federal grand jury in Wichita returned an indictment charging him with trafficking marijuana from his commercial properties and charging him with illegally possessing firearms and ammunition. Source: U.S. Department of Justice
Mother And Son Plead Guilty To $5 Million Tax Conspiracy

LAS VEGAS – A Las Vegas woman and her son pleaded guilty today to conspiring to defraud the United States by filing false tax returns with the IRS and diverting portions of the resulting tax refunds to themselves. Source: U.S. Department of Justice
U.S. Department of Justice Announces Distribution of over $15.5 Million to Compensate Victims of Massive Global Securities Fraud Scheme

The U.S. Department of Justice announced today that the Roger Knox Remission Fund has begun distributing more than $12.4 million in funds forfeited to the United States from Roger Knox and his co-conspirators to over 8,000 victims. Source: U.S. Department of Justice
Honduran national ordered to federal prison for fifth illegal reentry

A 40-year-old man who illegally resided in Houston has been sentenced for illegally reentering the country again Source: U.S. Department of Justice
Rockford Man Sentenced to Over Six Years in Prison for Possessing Child Pornography

STEPHEN CANFIELD possessed images of child pornography on his cell phone and in a Dropbox account. Source: U.S. Department of Justice
KC Man Sentenced to 10 Years for Cocaine Trafficking, Illegal Firearm

Antoine R. Gillum, 22, Kansas City, Mo., sentenced today for his role in a cocaine trafficking conspiracy and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime Source: U.S. Department of Justice
Coral Gables Man Pleads Guilty to Distributing Videos Depicting Sexual Torture of Baby Monkeys

Francisco Javier Ravelo, 36, of Coral Gables, pleaded guilty today to distributing videos depicting the torture of monkeys, in violation of the federal Animal Crushing statute. Ravelo was charged in October 2025. Source: U.S. Department of Justice
U.S. Department of Justice Announces Distribution of Over $15 Million for Victims of Global Securities Fraud Scheme

BOSTON – The U.S. Department of Justice announced today that the Roger Knox Remission Fund distributed more than $12.4 million in funds forfeited to the United States from Roger Knox and his co-conspirators to over 8,000 victims. An additional $3.1 million turned over to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission related to the securities fraud…
Lead Defendant in Bowling Green Methamphetamine Conspiracy Sentenced to 200 Months in Prison

Bowling Green, KY – On February 25, 2026, Scottie Starks, Jr., the lead defendant, in a Bowling Green methamphetamine conspiracy was sentenced to serve 200 months in federal prison.U.S. Attorney Kyle G. Bumgarner of the Western District of Kentucky, Special Agent in Charge John Nokes of the ATF Louisville Field Division, and Director Tommy M. Loving…
Leader of Capital District Drug Trafficking Organization Admits Guilt in Methamphetamine Trafficking Conspiracy

ALBANY, NEW YORK – Felix Arencibia, age 40, of Amsterdam, New York, pled guilty on February 27, 2026, to conspiracy and methamphetamine distribution charges in connection with his distribution and possession with intent to distribute more than 5 kilograms of pure methamphetamine and fentanyl.First Assistant United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III; Drug Enforcement Administration…
MS-13 gang member previously convicted of conspiring to commit murder sent to federal prison

A 28-year-old El Salvadorian national who illegally resided in Houston has been sentenced for unlawfully reentering the country after removal Source: U.S. Department of Justice
Miami-Area Man Pleads Guilty to Distributing Videos Depicting Sexual Torture of Baby Monkeys

Francisco Javier Ravelo, 36, of Coral Gables, Florida, pleaded guilty to distributing videos depicting the torture of monkeys, in violation of the federal Animal Crushing statute. Ravelo was charged in October 2025. Source: U.S. Department of Justice
Armed Career Criminal faces 15 Years to Life in Prison for Firearm Possession

Memphis, TN – Cortez Williams, 36, of Memphis, was convicted by a federal jury of being a felon in possession of a firearm and will face an enhanced penalty of 15 years to life imprisonment for being an Armed Career Criminal. United States Attorney D. Michael Dunavant announced the guilty verdict today.According to the evidence presented at…
Defendant Charged with Damaging the Brooklyn Headquarters of the Chabad-Lubavitch Movement

BROOKLYN, NY – Earlier today, in federal court in Brooklyn, a complaint was unsealed charging Dan Sohail with intentionally damaging religious property, specifically the global headquarters for the Chabad-Lubavitch movement (Chabad Headquarters) in Crown Heights, Brooklyn. Sohail was taken into federal custody earlier today and is scheduled to be arraigned this afternoon before United States…
Parkersburg Man Admits to Methamphetamine Charge

WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – A Wood County, West Virginia man has admitted to possessing methamphetamine in Ohio County, WV with the intent to distribute the drugs, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew L. Harvey. Source: U.S. Department of Justice
Two Individuals Indicted for Sexual Exploitation of Children

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A federal grand jury has indicted two individuals on child-exploitation charges, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Catherine L. Crosby.The following defendants were indicted:A two-count indictment charges Steven Roshee Powell, also known as “Champ G,” 35, of Birmingham, Alabama, with sex trafficking of children and attempted sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion. The…
Bond County meth dealer sentenced to federal prison

EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. – A district court judge sentenced a Bond County man to 151 months’ imprisonment after he sold meth and engaged in a three-hour standoff with police.Johnathan Joiner, 46, of Greenville, pleaded guilty to two counts of distribution of controlled substance: meth. Following imprisonment, he will serve three years of supervised release.“Not…
Iowa Man Remains Detained on Federal Child Pornography Charges

DAVENPORT, Iowa – Joseph Lee Rhodes, Jr., 41, of Muscatine County, was detained pending trial today in connection with an indictment charging him with five counts of transportation of child pornography. Source: U.S. Department of Justice