News from April 2023


New Hope Man Sentenced for His Role in Multi-Million-Dollar Kickback and Health Care Fraud Cases

A federal judge has sentenced another individual charged in a series of related cases involving multi-million-dollar health care fraud conspiracies, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona, Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent in Charge Carlton L. Peeples, and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General, Special Agent in Charge Tamala E. Miles.


Graham: Democrats’ Efforts To Destroy The Second Amendment Will Be Fought

U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina), ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today spoke at a press conference on the Respect for the Second Amendment Act, which would codify Second Amendment rights for law abiding citizens.


Suburban Chicago Man Indicted for COVID-19 Testing Fraud Scheme

A suburban Chicago man has been indicted by a federal grand jury on ten counts of wire fraud and one count of theft of government funds for purportedly submitting fraudulent claims for reimbursement on tests which were never performed, were performed improperly, or were already paid for by the client.


Georgia Couple Sentenced for Paycheck Protection Program Fraud

United States Attorney Steven Russell announced that Jeremy D. Sanders, 32, and Lakeda R. Sanders, 27, husband and wife, both of Newnan, Georgia, were sentenced on March 10, 2023, in federal court in Omaha, Nebraska, by Chief United States District Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. Jeremy Sanders was sentenced to four years of probation, including three months of home confinement, and was ordered to pay restitution of $21,304.88.


Decades After Thefts, Stolen Artifacts Recovered and Returned to Museums, Historical Societies

Dozens of artifacts stolen during the 1970s have been recovered and returned to the owning institutions, announced Jacqueline Maguire, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Philadelphia Division; Jacqueline Romero, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania; and Kevin Steele, Montgomery County (Pa.) District Attorney.


Home Health Provider and Two Executives Agree to Pay $1 Million to Resolve Kickback and Pandemic-Relief Fraud Allegations

A Fairfax-based home health care company and two executives agreed to pay $1 million to resolve claims arising from an alleged kickback scheme designed to obtain referrals for home health and hospice patients.


Missouri Doctor Admits Defrauding Medicare, Medicaid

A doctor from Moberly, Missouri pleaded guilty Tuesday to federal charges and admitted falsely using his father’s name to bill Medicare and Medicaid for medical services.


Long-time Sureno Gang Member Pleads To Assaulting A Federal Law Enforcement Officer With A Deadly Weapon

Vanessa R. Waldref, the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington, announced that Randy Coy James Holmes, age 25, of Spokane, Washington, pled guilty today in federal court in Spokane, Washington to Assault with a Deadly Weapon on a Federal Law Enforcement Officer in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 111(a)(1), (b), as well as to Discharge of a Firearm During a Crime of Violence in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 924(c).


Federal Arrest of Two Undocumented Non-Citizens for an Assault of a Federal Officer

On March 13, 2023, the Federal Bureau of Investigation arrested two Venezuelan nationals, 26-year-old Gregory Morillo-Quinto and 20-year-old Luiscar Godoy-Hernandez for assaulting a federal officer in El Paso, Texas.


Man Flees in White Truck After Robbing Albuquerque Bank

The FBI and Albuquerque Police Department are asking for the public’s help to identify a man who robbed U.S. Bank, 2300 Louisiana Boulevard NE, on Monday, March 13, 2013, at approximately 2:33 p.m.


Nonimmigrant visa holder convicted of violating US gun laws

A federal jury in Houston has convicted a 25-year-old citizen of Niger on firearms charges related to his status in the United States, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.


Former Kentucky Federal Prison Lieutenant Convicted of Covering Up the Assaults of Two Federal Inmates by Corrections Officers

After a six-day trial, a federal jury convicted former Bureau of Prisons Lieutenant Kevin Pearce, 38, on two counts of obstruction for writing false reports about the assaults of two federal inmates by corrections officers under Pearce’s command.


Saltillo, Mississippi Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Possession of Images and Videos of Child Sexual Abuse

A Saltillo, Mississippi man was sentenced today to 10 years in prison for his possession of child sexual abuse pictures and videos.


Jacksonville Man Charged With Being An Illegal User Of Narcotics While Possessing Firearms

United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Joshua Earrey (44, Jacksonville) has been charged by criminal complaint with being an illegal user of narcotics while possessing firearms. If convicted, Earrey faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in federal prison.


Callahan Man Charged With Possession With Intent To Distribute Controlled Substances

United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that James Darrell Hickox (37, Callahan) has been charged by criminal complaint with possession with intent to distribute controlled substances. If convicted, he faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 5 years, up to 40 years, in federal prison.


Twelve indicted on federal charges for crimes including drugs and illegal firearms possession

Twelve defendants are among those facing federal charges including illegal possession of firearms and drug charges after separate indictments by a grand jury in the Southern District of Georgia, while recent actions in U.S. District Court include guilty pleas and criminal sentences related to illegal gun possession.


U.S. Attorney’s Office Charges 9 Defendants with Child Exploitation Offenses in Ongoing Program to Prevent Victimization of Children

Federal authorities today announced a series of child sexual exploitation cases alleging the victimization of minors – sometimes by convicted sex offenders – and charging a range of crimes that include sex trafficking, enticing a minor to engage in criminal sexual activity and producing child pornography.


Former New Orleans Police Officer Sentenced for Sexually Assaulting a 15-Year-Old Girl

A former police officer with the New Orleans Police Department (NOPD) was sentenced in federal court to 14 years in prison for sexually assaulting a 15-year-old crime victim in violation of her constitutional rights.


Two Men Plead Guilty to $1.3 Million Penny-Stock Scheme

Two men pleaded guilty yesterday to conspiracy to commit securities and wire fraud in connection with a penny-stock manipulation scheme.


Texas Man Indicted in Western Pennsylvania on Money Laundering Charge

A resident of Houston, Texas, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh for money laundering, Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today