Latest News


Criminal Prosecution

Justice Department Strengthens Efforts To Address The Crisis Of Missing Or Murdered Indigenous Persons

News Release: SAN FRANCISCO -- The Justice Department joins its partners across the federal government, as well as people throughout American Indian and Alaska Native communities, in recognizing May 5, 2023 as National Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons Awareness Day. Responding to the unacceptable levels of violence that have led to the crisis of Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons (MMIP) is a priority of the Department of Justice every day.


Criminal Prosecution

Charleston Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Gun Crime

News Release: CHARLESTON, W.Va. - Travis Devon Woods, 34, of Charleston, pleaded guilty today to being a felon in possession of a firearm.


Criminal Prosecution

U.S. Attorney Dena J. King Announces The Winners Of The 7th Annual “Do The Write Thing” Writing Challenge In Asheville

News Release: ASHEVILLE, N.C. - U.S. Attorney Dena J. King announced the winners of the 7th Annual “Do the Write.


Criminal Prosecution

Dearborn Heights Doctor Pleads Guilty to $925,000 Fraud Scheme

News Release: DETROIT - A Dearborn Heights doctor pleaded guilty today to defrauding Medicare of more than $925,000 in health care payments, announced United States Attorney Dawn N. Ison.


Criminal Prosecution

U.S. Attorney’s Office Uses Civil Forfeiture to Recover $95,325.29 for Fraud Victim

News Release: Jackson, Miss. - On May 10, 2023, U.S. District Judge Sul Ozerden entered Final Judgment of Forfeiture against $95,325.29 in U.S. Currency seized from a Merchant and Marine Bank Account, announced U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca. According to the Verified Complaint for Forfeiture in Rem filed by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the Merchant and Marine Bank Account had been set up by a conspirator in a business email compromise scheme (BEC) to receive fraud proceeds.


Criminal Prosecution

Leader Of Sex Trafficking And Drug Conspiracy Pleads Guilty, Faces Up To Life In Prison

News Release: BUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced that Lairon Graham a/k/a Shah a/k/a Uncle Shah a/k/a Unc, 65, of Buffalo, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute, 400 grams or more of fentanyl and sex trafficking by force or coercion. The charges carry a mandatory minimum penalty of 15 years in prison, a maximum of life, and a $20,000,000 fine.


Criminal Prosecution

Federal Grand Jury Indicts Taylor County Man on Child Pornography Charges

News Release: Bowling Green, KY - A federal grand jury in Bowling Green, Kentucky, returned an indictment on May 10, 2023, charging Robert Blake Merryman with producing, distributing, and possessing child pornography.


Criminal Prosecution

Springfield Rapper Pleads Guilty to Illegal Firearms

News Release: SPRINGFIELD, Mo. - A Springfield, Mo., man who was part of a local rap group pleaded guilty in federal court today to illegally possessing firearms, one of which has been linked to several recent shootings.


Criminal Prosecution

Justice Department Files Sexual Harassment Lawsuit Against California Rental Property Manager and Owners

News Release: The Justice Department announced today that it has filed a lawsuit against the manager and the owner of a rental property in Los Angeles for engaging in sexual harassment in violation of the Fair Housing Act.


Criminal Prosecution

Meth trafficking sends Great Falls man to prison for eight years

News Release: MISSOULA - A Great Falls man convicted of trafficking methamphetamine while on supervision for a federal felony conviction was sentenced today to eight years in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.


Criminal Prosecution

Multiple defendants sentenced or enter guilty pleas on federal firearms charges

News Release: SAVANNAH, GA: At least 20 defendants have been sentenced to federal prison or await further proceedings after pleading guilty to federal charges including illegal possession of firearms.


Criminal Prosecution

Jacksonville Registered Sex Offender Indicted For Committing Multiple Child Sexual Exploitation Offenses

News Release: Jacksonville, Florida - United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the return of an indictment charging Andrew David Salas (35, Jacksonville) with interstate travel with the intent to engage in sexual conduct with a child, interstate transportation of a child to engage in sexual activity, production...


Criminal Prosecution

Eleventh Circuit Upholds Armed Career Criminal Sentence And Holds Florida Aggravated Assault A Violent Felony

News Release: TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA - Jason R. Coody, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, announced that on April 25, 2023, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit upheld the 211-month sentence of Fred Somers, age 46. That sentence was imposed by Senior U.S. District Court Judge Robert L. Hinkle in January of 2013 after Somers plead guilty to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and possession of an unregistered firearm.


Criminal Prosecution

Rosebud Man Sentenced for Assault

News Release: SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that Chief Judge Roberto A. Lange, U.S. District Court, has sentenced a Rosebud, South Dakota, man convicted of Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury. The sentencing took place on May 8, 2023.


Criminal Prosecution

Former Founder And CEO Of Nanotechnology Company Sentenced To 48 Months In Prison

News Release: Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced today that JAMES JEREMY BARBERA, the founder and former chief executive officer (“CEO") of a New York-based nanotechnology company, Nanobeak Biotech, Inc. (“Nanobeak"), was sentenced today to 48 months in prison by U.S. District Judge John G. Koeltl. BARBERA was previously convicted following a one-week trial of securities fraud, wire fraud, and conspiracy offenses.


Criminal Prosecution

Final Member of Drug Trafficking Conspiracy Pleads Guilty to Fentanyl and Methamphetamine Trafficking

News Release: PHOENIX, Ariz. - Carlos Alberto Castro-Ruiz, 26, of Phoenix, Arizona, pleaded guilty yesterday to Conspiracy to Distribute Fentanyl and Methamphetamine before United States District Judge Steven P. Logan. A sentencing hearing is set for July 18, 2023.


Criminal Prosecution

Everett Man Sentenced for Armed Bank Robbery

News Release: BOSTON - An Everett man was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Boston for committing the February 2021 armed bank of a TD Bank branch in Allston.


Criminal Prosecution

Defense Contractor and Chief Executive Officer Resolve False Claims Act and FIRREA Allegations for Misusing Pandemic-Relief Funds

News Release: ALEXANDRIA, Va. - CybeCys, Inc., a defense contractor located in Texas, and its Chief Executive Officer, Harish Vajja of Fairfax, agreed to pay more than $283,000 in civil penalties, damages, and restitution and have repaid the full amount of two pandemic-relief loans to resolve allegations that Vajja...


Criminal Prosecution

Salem Man Sentenced for Unlawful Possession of Machine Guns

News Release: CONCORD - A Salem man was sentenced today in federal court for the unlawful possession of machine guns, U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces.


Criminal Prosecution

Auto Zone robber convicted

News Release: HOUSTON - A 31-year-old Houston resident has entered a guilty plea to two counts of Hobbs Act robberies as well as discharging a firearm during one of the crimes, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.