Dublin man arrested in Utah on federal child exploitation charges

Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

Defendant allegedly committed at least 20 hands-on offenses, sent letters to 7-year-old victim with code words for sexual activity

COLUMBUS, Ohio – A Dublin, Ohio, man was arrested in Utah and charged federally with sexual exploitation crimes against minors.

Wade S. Christofferson, 72, was arrested on Nov. 20. He appeared in U.S. District Court in Utah today and his case was unsealed at that time. Christofferson is charged with attempting to sexually exploit a minor and with coercion and enticement.

According to charging documents, on Nov. 12, the Dublin Police Department received a report regarding the alleged sexual abuse of an Ohio minor by Christofferson that occurred when the victim was approximately 7 and 8 years old.

It is alleged Christofferson sexually abused the child in person 15 to 20 times.

He also allegedly engaged in a sexually explicit FaceTime call with a second minor victim and sent coded letters to her Utah home that referenced sexual activity. Christofferson also committed hands-on sexual abuse of that child as well.

A complaint affidavit details that Christofferson allegedly taught the 7-year-old Utah victim code words like “snow” for vagina, “friends” for nipples, “asterisk (*)” for naked, a drawn “smiley face” for rubs and “SS” for “Secret Spanks.” The defendant was allegedly overheard on a FaceTime call asking the victim if he could see her “snow” and “friends.”

Letters referenced in the charging documents include “Top Secret” hand-written messages. For example, Christofferson wrote to the Utah victim, telling her “It was nice to see Snow and her friends when we FaceTimed…” and “I can’t wait to see you and play * games! I have a new one to teach you called ‘school.’ You will like it!”

In one letter Christofferson allegedly included coupons he said were “Good for one * game with me!! You get to choose the game!”

Dublin police officers conducted a search at Christofferson’s residence the day they received the report of alleged abuse. They discovered an area of the home that was accessed by a child size door with “H POTTER” written on it. Inside the modified attic crawl space area, officers discovered children’s writing on the walls and a mattress, pillows and blankets on the floor.

Christofferson’s phone allegedly included search history for “criminal defense attorneys sex crimes columbus ohio” and “In Ohio do clergy have to report child abuse confessions.”

The defendant will be extradited from Utah to the Southern District of Ohio.

Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Adam Lawson, Acting Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division; Dublin Police Chief Justin Paez and other members of the FBI’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force announced the charges.

U.S. Attorney Gerace commended the significant contributions to this case by the FBI Salt Lake City Division, the Payson, Utah Police Department and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah.

Assistant United States Attorney Emily Czerniejewski is representing the United States in this case.

A criminal complaint merely contains allegations, and defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.

# # #

New York Man Sentenced to 10 Years’ Imprisonment on Firearms Offenses

Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

SCRANTON- The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that on November 24, 2025, Senior United States District Judge Malachy E, Mannion sentenced Naquan Simmons, age 31, of Bronx, New York, to 120 months’ imprisonment for false statements in the acquisition of firearms.

According to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, on September 22, 2022, Naquan Simmons travelled to a gun store in Wilkes-Barre Township, Luzerne County, with a woman suffering from opioid use disorder. The woman purchased two guns in her name on behalf of Simmons, who was legally prohibited from purchasing firearms. Simmons provided the woman with heroin in exchange for the two firearms. One of the firearms was later located in Bronx, New York. Thereafter, on August 15, 2023, Simmons entered a gun store in Plains Township, Luzerne County, with a man who Simmons was supplying with crack cocaine. The man attempted to purchase the firearm in his name on behalf of Simmons but never received the firearm due to law enforcement intervention. At the time of these offenses, Simmons was on federal supervised release in the Southern District of New York for conspiracy to commit racketeering and use of a firearm in relation to a crime of violence. 

The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Luzerne County Drug Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jenny P. Roberts prosecuted the case.

# # # 

St. Louis Felon Sentenced to 71 Months in Prison after Shooting

Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge Henry E. Autrey on Tuesday sentenced a convicted felon who shot and wounded another man to 71 months in prison.

Lamaar Pearson, 37, pleaded guilty in August in U.S. District Court in St. Louis to one count of being a felon in possession of ammunition. He admitted that on March 29, 2024, he shot a man twice during a dispute, injuring the victim in the lower back and hip. After the shooting, St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department officers recovered a firearm magazine that Pearson had hidden and 10 spent cartridge casings.

The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Szczucinski prosecuted the case.

Court Appoints Scott E. Bradford as U.S. Attorney

Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

PORTLAND, Ore.— Scott E. Bradford has taken the oath of office to remain as the chief federal law enforcement officer for the District of Oregon.

Senior U.S. District Judge Michael W. Mosman administered the oath of office before staff, court personnel, and family. The moment was especially meaningful because Judge Mosman previously served as U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon, and Bradford also clerked for him.

“Being chosen to lead the District of Oregon is a privilege I do not take lightly. I am deeply humbled by the district court’s vote of confidence in me, and I am committed to serving our community alongside remarkable colleagues and agency partners, who dedicate themselves to the mission every day,” said Scott E. Bradford, U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon. “My focus remains on the Department’s priorities: keeping our country safe, upholding the rule of law, and protecting civil rights.”

Attorney General Pamela Bondi previously appointed Bradford as U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon on July 28, 2025.

Bradford has been a federal prosecutor for more than 18 years and has handled all manner of criminal cases, including violent crime, narcotics trafficking, child exploitation, fraud, cyber, and national security.

Bradford joined the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon in 2009 as an Assistant U.S. Attorney and served in a variety of leadership roles within the office, including Chief of the White Collar Unit, Chief of the Economic, National Security, and Cyber Crimes Unit, and Deputy Chief of the Criminal Division.

In 2022, Bradford served as the U.S. Department of Justice’s Regional Cybercrime Attaché in Southeast Asia where he trained justice sector partners within the region to combat cybercrime. Before becoming the U.S. Attorney, Bradford was the Acting Chief of the Counterintelligence and Export Control Section in the National Security Division in Washington, D.C.

Felon who Caused Serious Accident After St. Louis Police Chase Sentenced to 70 Months in Prison

Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge Rodney W. Sippel on Tuesday sentenced a felon who caused a serious accident after fleeing from police to 70 months in prison.

Juan Goodrich, 33, of St. Louis County, pleaded guilty in August to one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm.

On the evening of April 2, 2024, a St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department officer spotted a 2014 Chrysler 200 running a red light at North Kingshighway Boulevard and Natural Bridge Avenue. Goodrich sped away, running another red light and later running a stop sign. A computer inquiry showed that his license plate was invalid. When the officer tried to stop Goodrich by activating the lights and siren, he refused to stop, continuing at speeds exceeding 80 m.p.h. The officer turned off the lights and siren due to safety concerns, but Goodrich continued to speed through the streets. He ran another red light and his vehicle began to wobble before striking a 2009 Nissan Maxima head-on. The Maxima’s 52-year-old driver was trapped in her vehicle with major injuries. Goodrich got out of his vehicle, holding a black AR-15-style rifle loaded with 30 rounds of ammunition, and ran. He stumbled and fell, dropping the rifle, and then continued to run. He was arrested and admitted being a felon and possessing a firearm.

The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Linda Lane prosecuted the case. 

Repeat Sex Offender Sentenced to 35 Years in Prison for Attempted Online Enticement of a Minor and Child Pornography Crimes

Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

Spokane, Washington – United States Attorney Pete Serrano announced today that Jason Foster Frank, age 54, was sentenced for one count each of Attempted Online Enticement, Possession of Child Pornography, and Commission of a Felony Sex Offense by an Individual Required to Register as a Sex Offender. Frank pleaded guilty to the first two crimes on March 25, 2025, and was convicted after a trial on the third crime. United States District Judge Mary K. Dimke sentenced Frank to 35 years in prison, followed by a life term of supervised release. Judge Dimke also ordered $10,000 in restitution be paid to one of Frank’s victims.

According to court documents, Frank responded to an advertisement posted by undercover law enforcement in June 2023, in which two young girls were stated to be available for sex. Frank expressed sexual interest in the minors during various communications with an undercover officer posing as the mother of the girls. For a week, Frank engaged with undercover officers, arranged to meet for the purpose of sex with the two minor girls. Frank was ultimately arrested after he arrived at a prearranged meeting location in Stevens County.

In Frank’s vehicle, law enforcement agents found two phones. One phone Frank used to communicate with his probation officer; on the other, law enforcement agents observed child pornography images and videos of very young children.

Frank was previously convicted in 2008 in Virginia of two counts of Carnal Knowledge of a Child Between 13 and 15 Years of Age, one count of Attempted Carnal Knowledge of a Child Between 13 and 15 years of age, and three counts of Use of Communications Systems to Facilitate Certain Offenses Involving Children. As a result of these convictions, Frank was required to register as a sex offender under federal and state law.

Mr. Serrano expressed gratitude for the 35-year sentencing, stating, “Today’s sentence of 35 years of a 54-year-old man demonstrates the seriousness of Mr. Frank’s actions. It also shows our office’s efforts to ensure that Mr. Frank will not have a chance harm another child. We’re thankful to our partner agencies for their great investigation and to the Judge for sentencing Mr. Frank in a way that protects the children of our communities.”

“Cases such as this are a perfect example of what cooperation between local, State, and Federal partners can yield,” said Stevens County Sheriff Brad Manke. “Coming together as a team, we were able to take a potentially dangerous predator off the streets. The Stevens County Sheriff’s Office values the relationship we have with all our law enforcement and prosecutorial partners.”

“Frank’s 35-year sentence ensures he can no longer act upon his disturbing sickness and harm children,” said HSI Seattle acting Special Agent in Charge April Miller. “This case proves our team of law enforcement professionals and partners will relentlessly pursue anyone who targets the innocent.”

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. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood 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 https://www.justice.gov/psc. 

This case was investigated jointly by Homeland Security Investigations and the Stevens County Sheriff’s Office, resulting in charges filed by the Stevens County Prosecutor’s Office as well as federal charges. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ann T. Wick.

2:24-cr-00051-MKD

Kidnapper Sentenced to 4 Years in Federal Prison

Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

EL PASO, Texas – An El Paso man was sentenced Monday in a federal court to 48 months in prison for kidnapping.

According to court documents, on Jan. 20, Leland Alexander Drumheller, 20, sent a text message to his ex-girlfriend asking her to return his sweatshirt. The two agreed to meet and did so inside Drumheller’s vehicle in front of the ex-girlfriend’s apartment. During the interaction, Drumheller became enraged and grabbed his ex-girlfriend, preventing her from exiting the vehicle as he drove away toward Chapparal, New Mexico.

At multiple traffic lights, the kidnapping victim tried to escape, but Drumheller prevented her from doing so by grabbing her hair and sweatshirt. At one point, the victim received a phone call from her current boyfriend. When the victim told her boyfriend to “call the cops,” Drumheller grabbed the phone and threw it outside the vehicle as he continued to drive the victim to a desert area in Chaparral.

In Chaparral, Drumheller ordered the victim to get out of the vehicle and demanded she get on her knees. He placed his cell phone to the back of her head, leading the victim to believe the object was a gun. Drumheller told her, “If you play me again, it’ll get worse.” He threatened to shoot her if she followed him and then got back in his vehicle and drove away, leaving the victim alone in the desert.

Drumheller was charged with one count kidnapping and arrested on Feb. 3. He pleaded guilty on Sept. 2. In addition to the four years in prison, U.S. District Judge Kathleen Cardone sentenced Drumheller to five years of supervised release.

U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons for the Western District of Texas made the announcement.

The FBI and El Paso Police Department investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah Valenzuela prosecuted the case.

###

White Supremacist Sentenced to 8 ½ Years Imprisonment on Firearms, Ammunition, and Drug-Trafficking Charges

Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

MINNEAPOLIS – Andrew David Munsinger, 41, of Redwood Falls, Minnesota, has been sentenced to 104 months’ imprisonment and three years of supervised release following an April jury trial where he was found guilty of being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition and possession with intent to distribute 5.5 pounds of marijuana, announced U.S. Attorney Daniel N. Rosen.

According to evidence presented at trial, Munsinger was a member of the Aryan Freedom Network, a white supremacist organization.  During a year-long investigation by the FBI, evidence gathered included audio- and video-recordings of Munsinger possessing and shooting firearms, purchasing and using ammunition, possessing over 5 pounds of marijuana in heat-sealed bags, discussing his history of marijuana trafficking and his profits, and admitting on more than one occasion that he knew he could not legally possess a firearm.

On February 7, 2024, the FBI executed simultaneous search warrants at Munsinger’s residence, his vehicles, and a farm where he was surveilled on at least two occasions before traveling to a shooting range.  Law enforcement seized a total of five firearms, including two unserialized personally made semiautomatic rifles (commonly referred to as ghost guns), two shotguns, a nine-millimeter semiautomatic pistol, over 500 rounds and casings of ammunition, a bullet-resistant vest, multiple high-capacity magazines, and a rifle scope. They also seized over five pounds of marijuana in heat-sealed packages, hydroponic marijuana grow equipment, growing marijuana plants, and $24,300 cash. Because Munsinger has prior felony convictions, he is prohibited from legally possessing firearms or ammunition.

Munsinger was sentenced yesterday in U.S. District Court before United States District Judge John R. Tunheim to 104 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release.

This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI and the Joint Terrorism Task Force.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Benjamin Bejar and Raphael B. Coburn prosecuted the case.

Austin Emergency Center and Affiliates to Pay $429,231 to Settle Civil False Claims Act Allegations

Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

AUSTIN, Texas – Austin Emergency Center, LLC, Austin ER, LLC, AEC ER 4, LLC, Pahala Ventures, LLC, AEC Physicians, PLLC, and AEC Pflugerville, LLC (collectively, “Austin Emergency Center”) have agreed to pay the United States $429,231 to resolve overbilling allegations under the False Claims Act.

The settlement resolves allegations that Austin Emergency Center, which operates and provides medical services at standalone emergency medical facilities in the Austin area, submitted inflated claims for reimbursement to the Federal Employees Health Benefit Program (FEHBP). The United States alleged that Austin Emergency Center charged the FEHBP more than it charged cash-paying patients for certain COVID-19 tests during the period from June 18, 2020, through April 2, 2021, and up-coded evaluation and management services for drive-through COVID-19 screening during the period from April 13, 2020, through April 2, 2021.

“Financially capitalizing on crisis and the fear and misfortune of others is at the heart of every unlawful act committed by the worst elements of our society. Doing so under the guise of being a healthcare provider, represents the worst of who we are and further erodes our collective trust in the healthcare system,” said U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons for the Western District of Texas. “Those who have used or plan to use healthcare as a means to unlawfully enrich themselves should take note that the Department of Justice is actively looking for opportunities to recover stolen pandemic-era funds on behalf of the American people.”

“During a public health emergency, providers exploited federal employees’ health benefits for profit at the taxpayers’ expense,” said Special Agent in Charge Derek M. Holt of the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Office of the Inspector General (OIG). “We applaud our investigative staff and our partners at the Department of Justice for continuing to hold these providers accountable.”

OPM OIG led the investigation of this matter. Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas Parnham negotiated the settlement on behalf of the government.

The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability.

###

North Carolina Man Pleads Guilty to Enticing Okeechobee Minor

Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

MIAMI – A Charlotte, North Carolina man has pleaded guilty in Fort Pierce on Oct. 14 to enticing a minor to produce child sexual abuse material (CSAM).

According to court documents, Kaleb Harrison Childs, 26, began communicating in February 2025 with a minor from Okeechobee through a social media application. The minor told Childs that she was 13 years old, but she was actually 12. During their online exchanges, Childs offered to provide gift cards and video game credits in exchange for sexually explicit images and videos of the minor.

In May 2025, Childs was arrested as he reentered the U.S aboard a cruise ship. Following his arrest, law enforcement executed a search warrant at his residence and discovered hundreds of images of CSAM.

Childs pleaded guilty to one count of enticement of a minor and one count of producing material involving the sexual exploitation of minors.  Childs faces a maximum sentence of life in prison for the enticement count and up to 30 years in prison for the production count. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida, Acting Special Agent in Charge José R. Figueroa of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Miami Field Division, and Sheriff Noel E. Stephen of the Okeechobee County Sheriff’s Office made the announcement.

HSI Fort Pierce and the Okeechobee County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Hoover is prosecuting the case.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood 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, visit www.justice.gov/psc.

You may find a copy of this press release (and any updates) on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida at www.justice.gov/usao-sdfl.

Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov, under case number  25-cr-14034.

###