Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

BOSTON – A former Lawrence Police Captain was arrested and charged in connection with an alleged assault on a man in Lawrence Police custody.  

Michael M. Mangan, 47, of Derry, N.H., was indicted by a federal grand jury with one count of deprivation of rights under color of law and two counts of false reports. The defendant was arrested on Oct. 29, 2025 and was released on conditions following an initial appearance in federal court in Boston.

According to the indictment, on March 10, 2023, while on duty as a Captain with the Lawrence Police Department, Mangan assaulted a person who had been arrested, resulting in bodily injury the victim. The indictment further alleges that Mangan submitted two false reports about the incident, including a report in which he falsely stated that during the booking process, the victim “slightly turned and bladed his body towards” Mangan “and simultaneously threw his right arm and outstretched hand at a high rate of speed towards [Mangan’s] face with his fingers in a grabbing motion. It alleged that he also stated that the victim demonstrated “assaultive action,” that there was an “imminent threat of the victim reaching to grab at [Mangan’s] face” and that he “utilized a straight arm take down” with his right arm across the victim’s chest. As alleged in the indictment, Mangan submitted these false reports intending to impede, obstruct or influence an ensuing federal investigation.

The charge of deprivation of rights under color of law provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of false reports provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.

United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kristina E. Barclay and Brian A. Fogerty of the Criminal Division are prosecuting the case.

The details contained in the charging document are allegations. The defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in the court of law.  

Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

At the time of his arrest the defendant was on federal supervised release and banned from entering the City of Brockton without permission

Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

A man who used Snapchat, Instagram, and text messages to persuade children to engage in sexually explicit conduct, and send him photographs and videos of this conduct, was sentenced on October 1, 2025 to 40 years in federal prison.

Bryce Hans Plower, age 37, from Prairieburg, Iowa, received the prison term after an April 17, 2025 guilty plea to sexual exploitation of children and possession of child pornography.

Information in a plea agreement and at sentencing showed that between 2014 and 2024, Plower convinced multiple children to send him sexually explicit images and videos of themselves.  Some minors were as young as 12 years old.  He paid several children, often as little as $1.  Minors then sent him sexually explicit images that they felt they owed him.  Plower also possessed child pornography on his phone, including of a child engaged in sexual acts with an animal, prepubescent children, and sadistic or masochistic conduct.   

Plower was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams.  Plower was sentenced to 480 months’ imprisonment and was ordered to make $6,000 in restitution to victims.  He must also serve a 5-year term of supervised release after the prison term.  There is no parole in the federal system.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse.  Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims.  For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc.  For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab “resources.”

Plower is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Devra T. Hake and investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation.  

Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.

The case file number is 24-CR-91.

Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.

Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

A Fort Dodge man who sexually exploited several minors and distributed child pornography to children pled guilty November 12, 2025, in federal court in Sioux City.

Pry’Shayn Mosley, 20, from Fort Dodge, Iowa, was convicted of one count of sexual exploitation of a minor and one count of distribution of child pornography. 

At the plea hearing, Mosley admitted that between May 2022 and October 2022 he enticed two minors under the age of 18 to engage in sexually explicit conduct in order to produce visual depictions of such conduct.  Mosley further admitted to possessing and distributing child sexual abuse material to other persons, including children.  During the investigation into Mosely’s activities, a search warrant was executed at Mosley’s residence.  Law enforcement seized several electronic devices along with marijuana, drug distribution paraphernalia, cash, and two loaded firearms.  During the search, with police at the scene, Mosley convinced a juvenile at the residence to retrieve a package of drugs from another room and attempt to discard the drugs – cocaine, methamphetamine and fentanyl.  Officers observed the juvenile and stopped him before he could destroy the evidence.  The child pornography created and distributed to children by Mosely involved material that portrayed sadistic or masochistic conduct. 

Sentencing before United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a presentence report is prepared.  Mosley remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing.  Mosley faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years’ imprisonment and a possible maximum sentence of 30 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and at least five years of supervised release following any imprisonment.

The case was investigated by the Fort Dodge Police Department and Webster County Sheriff’s Office and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kraig R. Hamit.   

Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.

The case file number is 25-3002.  Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.

Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

William Clark, Jr. 40, from Story City, Iowa was sentenced on October 7, 2025, in federal court in Sioux City, Iowa.  Clark, Jr. was convicted of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl by pleading guilty on May 8, 2025.

Evidence at the plea and sentencing hearings showed that from January 2024 through April 27, 2024, Clark, Jr. and two others conspired to distribute at least ½ pound of methamphetamine and more than 1500 pills of fentanyl.  On April 21, 2024, Clark, Jr., along with two others were headed to Colorado to pick up more methamphetamine.  They attempted to elude law enforcement in a 30 minute, high speed vehicle chase during which they discarded 1500 fentanyl pills.  Clark, Jr. also made “false” 911 calls to law enforcement to distract them, and avoid capture.  

Sentencing was held before United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand.  Clark, Jr. was sentenced to 108 months’ imprisonment and must serve a term of four years of supervised release following imprisonment.  There is no parole in the federal system.  Clark, Jr. remains in custody of the United States Marshal until he can be transported to a federal prison.  

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shawn S. Wehde and was investigated by the Ida and Sac County Sheriff’s Offices, the Tri-State Drug Task Force based in Sioux City, Iowa, that consists of law enforcement personnel from the Drug Enforcement Administration; Sioux City, Iowa, Police Department; Homeland Security Investigations; Woodbury County Sheriff’s Office; South Sioux City, Nebraska, Police Department; Nebraska State Patrol; Iowa National Guard; Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement; United States Marshals Service; South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation; and the Woodbury County Attorney’s Office; and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; and Iowa DCI Laboratory  

Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.

The case file number is 24-4042.  Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.

Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

BOSTON – A Lynn was sentenced on Oct. 24, 2025 in federal court in Boston for making threats to an elected official.

Justin David Gaglio, 51, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Indira Talwani to two years in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release. On Sept. 9, 2025, Gaglio pleaded guilty to one count of transmitting interstate threats. He was charged in October 2024.

Beginning in or around January 2023, Gaglio began contacting the elected official via online submissions through the elected official’s website. Between January 2023 and September 2024, Gaglio submitted over 80 separate messages to the elected official via the website – sometimes sending multiple messages within minutes of each other.  

On or about Sept. 8, 2024, Gaglio submitted a contact request to the elected official’s website in which he threatened to violently murder the elected official and their family. Specifically, Gaglio said that the elected official’s entire family would “die a horrific death,” and that he was “contemplating going [to the elected official’s] home and butchering” the elected official’s family.

United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Ted. E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by the United States Capital Police, the United States Secret Service, the Massachusetts State Police and the Lynn and Salem Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alathea E. Porter of the Criminal Division prosecuted the case.

Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

Local, State, and Federal Law Enforcement Dismantled Violent Crime and Drug Trafficking Networks in Danville

Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

Editor’s Note: This matter occurred on the date indicated but was not published at that time due to a lapse in federal appropriations. Press releases are posted and made available following the return to normal operations

ABINGDON, Va. – A Wise, Virginia man who conspired with others to traffic methamphetamine into Southwest Virginia was sentenced October 23 to 120 months in federal prison.

Keith Edward Payne, Jr., 46, previously pled guilty to two counts of distribution of methamphetamine and one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute 500 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing methamphetamine. 

According to court documents, Payne conspired with Ashley Beverly, Brandon Boggs, Bradley Chester, Cody Rose, James Gamble, Thomas Houston Jr., and others, to distribute large quantities of methamphetamine into Southwest Virginia.

Payne served as a major distributor for the conspiracy, regularly supplying multiple co-conspirators with up to one-fourth a pound of methamphetamine at a time. Most of Payne’s drug sales took place at his residence in Wise.  Payne also combined drug distribution with the possession of firearms.  A search warrant executed at Payne’s residence on the day of his arrest revealed 24 firearms, 2,954 rounds of assorted ammunition, digital scales, and drug packaging materials.

In April, co-conspirator Gamble was sentenced to 151 months in prison for his role in the conspiracy.  Bradley Chester was sentenced to 84 months and Cody Rose to 49 months for their roles in the conspiracy. Early this year, Houston was sentenced to 72 months.

Acting U.S. Robert N. Tracci and Anthony A. Spotswood, Special Agent in Charge of the Washington Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives made the announcement.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), Southwest Drug Task Force, and Wise County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Lena Busscher prosecuted the case for the United States.

Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

Former teacher allegedly paid more than $23,000 to produce videos documenting the sexual exploitation of minor boys in the Philippines

Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

Editor’s Note: This matter occurred on the date indicated but was not published at that time due to a lapse in federal appropriations. Press releases are posted and made available following the return to normal operations

ABINGDON, Va. – The final defendant charged in a 17-member conspiracy who defrauded the United States, committed program fraud and mail fraud in connection with a scheme involving the filing of fraudulent claims for pandemic unemployment benefits was sentenced October 14 in U.S. District Court in Abingdon.

On October 9, 2025, Jason Dale Worley, 47, of Meadowview, Virginia, was sentenced to serve 12 months and 1 day in prison for filing a fraudulent claim for pandemic unemployment benefits. Worley was also ordered to pay restitution to the Virginia Employment Commission in the amount of $9,698, which represents the total pandemic unemployment benefits for which he filed fraudulent claims or recertifications.

Earlier this year, Crystal Shaw was sentenced to 60 months in federal prison for her role in the conspiracy. Shaw, one of the lead organizers of this conspiracy, was sentenced to the statutory maximum term of imprisonment. She was also ordered to pay $287,459 in restitution to the Virginia Employment Commission for her role in this conspiracy.

Previously sentenced as part of the conspiracy were 15 other co-defendants:  Joseph Hass, 27 months; Brian Addair, 24 months; Russell Stiltner, 24 months; Daniel Horton, 21 months; Christopher Webb, 20 months; Cara Camille Bailey, 19 months; Jessica  Lester, 19 months; Justin Meadows, 18 months; Terrence Vilacha, 18 months; and Clinton Michael Altizer, Stephanie Amber Barton, Jeramy Blake Farmer, and Hayleigh McKenzie Wolfe were each sentenced to 12 months and 1 day. Jonathan Webb, the individual charged with recruiting others to file fraudulent claims, mostly inmates at local jails, was sentenced to 48 months in prison and was ordered to pay $150,218 in restitution. Josef Brown, another incarcerated individual who recruited others to file fraudulent claims, was sentenced to 35 months in prison and was ordered to pay $119,660 in restitution.

In total, the defendants stole $341,205 in pandemic relief funds to which they were not entitled.

All defendants were also ordered to pay restitution to the Virginia Employment Commission for the fraudulent claims and fraudulent recertifications.

According to court documents, between March 2020 and September 2021, Josef Brown, Jonathan Webb, and Crystal Shaw developed a scheme to file fraudulent claims and recertifications for pandemic unemployment befits via the Virginia Employment Commission website. The scheme involved the collection of personal identification information (PII) of inmates housed at SWVRJA-Haysi and Abingdon, as well as personal friends and acquaintances of Brown, Webb, and Shaw. The conspirators used that information to file fraudulent claims and recertifications for pandemic unemployment benefits for incarcerated individuals and others who were ineligible for the benefits.

As part of the Pandemic Response Accountability Committee (PRAC) Task Force, this investigation was conducted by the Special Inspector General for Pandemic Recovery. The PRAC’s 20 member Inspectors General were charged with identifying major risks that cross program and agency boundaries to detect fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement in the more than $5 trillion in COVID-19 spending. According to the United States Department of Labor, Virginia paid approximately $1.1 billion in fraudulent unemployment claims between April 1, 2020, and March 31, 2021.

Acting United States Attorney Robert N. Tracci, Ian Kaufman, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Richmond Division, Syreeta Scott, Special Agent in Charge, Mid-Atlantic Region, U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General (DOL-OIG), and Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares announced the sentences.

Agencies that assisted with this investigation included the Dickenson County Sheriff’s Office, the Southwest Virginia Regional Jail Authority, the FBI, U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, and the Virginia Employment Commission.

Special Assistant United States Attorney M. Suzanne Kerney-Quillen, a Senior Assistant Attorney General and Deputy Section Chief of the Virginia Attorney General’s Major Crimes and Emerging Threats Section, and Assistant United States Attorney Danielle Stone are prosecuting the case for the United States.