Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division
United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that Chief Judge Roberto A. Lange, U.S. District Court, sentenced a Sioux Falls, South Dakota, woman convicted of Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person. The sentencing took place on April 6, 2026.
Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division
United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that a jury has convicted Dalton Hump, age 34, of Faith, South Dakota, of one count of First-Degree Burglary following a two-day jury trial in federal district court in Pierre, South Dakota. The verdict was returned on April 2, 2026.
Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey announced today that it collected $1,507,147,950.92 in criminal and civil actions in Fiscal Year 2025—the most of any U.S. Attorney’s Office in the country.
Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division
A West Virginia woman who was a naturalized U.S. citizen from Bosnia and Herzegovina was sentenced yesterday to 30 months in prison for naturalization fraud based on lies about her prior criminal conduct to obtain U.S. citizenship.
According to statements made in court and court documents, Nada Radovan Tomanić, 53, of West Virginia, served with the Zulfikar Special Unit of the Army of Bosnia and Herzegovina in the 1990s, during the armed conflict in the region. Along with other Zulfikar Special Unit soldiers, Tomanić participated in the severe physical and psychological abuse of Bosnian Serb civilian prisoners, including torture and inhuman treatment amounting to a war crime.
When applying for U.S. naturalization in 2012, Tomanić falsely denied having served in a detention facility or in any other situation involving the detention of others. She also falsely denied having committed a crime for which she had not been arrested — specifically, the crime of inflicting serious bodily harm under the Criminal Law of the Socialist Republic of Yugoslavia.
Tomanić’s deception extended beyond her written naturalization application. During her interview with a U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services officer, she was placed under oath and was legally obligated to answer questions truthfully. Despite that obligation, she again lied about her service in a detention facility and her past criminal conduct.
“The defendant tortured and abused prisoners in Bosnia and then lied to U.S. immigration authorities to live in the U.S. and become a citizen,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva for the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Human rights violators are not welcome in the United States. Thanks to the courage of the victims, and the diligence and dedication of our prosecutors and law enforcement partners, the defendant has been held accountable for exploiting our immigration system and evading responsibility for her crimes.”
“I sincerely appreciate the investigative work of our law enforcement partners both here in the U.S. and in Bosnia who have disregarded the passage of decades to ensure that justice is served,” said U.S. Attorney David X. Sullivan for the District of Connecticut. “There is no statute of limitations for human decency.”
“This case has always been about more than lying on naturalization documents,” said Special Agent in Charge P.J. O’Brien of the FBI New Haven Field Office. “Over the course of this investigation Tomanić’s violent history of targeting people based on their ethnicity and religion came to light, and we hope that yesterday’s sentencing gives some measure of justice to her victims. The FBI, along with our partners at the Department of Homeland Security’s Human Rights Violators and War Crimes Center, and the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Office of Fraud Detection and National Security will continue to investigate crimes of this nature to ensure the sanctity of the immigration process for all who righteously apply for U.S. Citizenship.”
Tomanić pleaded guilty on Nov. 10, 2025, to one count of procuring citizenship contrary to law.
The FBI investigated the case, with coordination provided by the Department of Homeland Security’s Human Rights Violators and War Crimes Center (HRVWCC) and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services’ Office of Fraud Detection and National Security (FDNS), along with the FBI’s International Human Rights Unit (IHRU). The Justice Department thanks authorities from Bosnia and Herzegovina, to include the Ministry of Justice of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Republic of Srpska Ministry of Interior, Serbian authorities, and the United Nations International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals, who were instrumental in providing assistance that aided in furthering the investigation.
Trial Attorney Elizabeth Nielsen of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section (HRSP) and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Anastasia King and Angel Krull for the District of Connecticut prosecuted the case, with assistance from HRSP historians. The Criminal Division’s Office of International Affairs also provided assistance.
Members of the public who have information about human rights violators in the United States are urged to contact the FBI at 1-800-CALLFBI (1-800-225-5324) or through the FBI’s online tip form at www.tips.fbi.gov/, or Homeland Security Investigations at 1-866-DHS-2-ICE (1-866-347-2423) or through ICE’s online tip form at www.ice.gov/webform/ice-tip-form.
Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division
ROANOKE, Va. – A Ripplemead, Virginia man was arrested recently on charges of attempting to possess with intent to distribute dimethyltryptamine (DMT) and distributing lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), powerful psychedelic drugs.Police investigators arrested Charles Herman Aardema III, 28, for these charges as alleged in a federal criminal complaint. According to the complaint, in September 2021, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at the Miami international mail facility examined a parcel due to suspicious anomalies revealed by X-ray. The parcel was addressed to Aardema’s Ripplemead home and shipped by a “Raul Wictor Silva Batista” of Brazil.
Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division
Tampa, Florida – Zachary William Thomas (29, Clearwater) has been sentenced by U.S. District Judge William F. Jung to seven years and six months in federal prison for distribution and possession of child sexual abuse material (CSAM). He pleaded guilty on October 7, 2025. Thomas was also ordered to pay $9,000 in restitution and will be required to register as a sex offender. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.
Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division
United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Camela C. Theeler has sentenced a Pine Ridge, South Dakota, woman convicted of Assault Resulting in Sioux Bodily Injury – Aiding and Abetting. The sentencing took place on April 6, 2026.
Source: United States Army
USAG BAVARIA – HOHENFELS, Germany – Dietmar Meier, an airfield operations manager with more than four decades of experience all at Hohenfels Army Airfield, concluded his career March 27, 2026 with friends and colleagues on the tarmac of the airfield he dedicated his professional life to.
As part of Meier’s send-off on a clear, cold morning, the airfield’s fire prevention team drove him the length of the airfield.
While the fire prevention team and Meier drove, his colleagues walked from the airfield operations building to just outside a hangar at the other end to take a group photo of the team.
Colleagues knew Meier as “Didi,” a name that had followed him since childhood. Others of his colleagues had a different name for Meier: Mr. Airfield. Meier, for his part, attributes the nickname to him knowing from years of experience most everyone to contact whenever the team needed to accomplish something.
Meier’s connection to the U.S. Army and to Hohenfels partly because his family lived immediately off post in the market town Schmidmühlen.
“I was born in Schmidmühlen,” Meier said. “I grew up in Schmidmühlen. I live in Schmidmühlen. I think I’m going to die there.”
Meier’s father worked for housing on-post, so after schooling, Meier himself decided to apply for a position. He started in September 1983, and, after his probationary period, became part of the airfield crew in February 1984. Meier attributes his longevity in the location to the career field – aviation – being exciting.
“If I look back, the 42 years, this is the truth: I enjoyed every single day,” he said. “I cannot remember a day where I thought I do not want to come to work. It was always exciting.”
After Meier received awards and applause from his colleagues, he took a few moments to speak, thanking his team members and remembering others. He also commended his employer.
“The U.S. Army was always, over my 42, 43 years, a loyal employer,” he said.
Meier plans to spend time at his house in Schmidmühlen, time with his Family elsewhere in Bavaria, and time traveling with his wife to vacation spots throughout Europe.
Source: United States Army
BAUMHOLDER, Germany — On any given day at the Baumholder Veterinary Treatment Facility, Sgt. Syarra Bermudez can be found moving seamlessly between patient care, leadership responsibilities and mentorship. As a 68T Animal Care Specialist, she represents a growing cohort of Soldiers who are redefining what it means to serve, balancing operational demands with family life and personal advancement.
Bermudez, who enlisted in 2019, did not begin her Army career in veterinary medicine. Initially trained as a combat engineer, she entered the service expecting a path centered on demolitions. Instead, her early experience, shaped by the constraints of the COVID-19 pandemic, required flexibility.
After graduating from Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, she reported to her first duty station at Fort Polk, Louisiana, where she worked in route clearance operations and steadily assumed increasing responsibility. By the time she departed, she had advanced to specialist, serving as a master driver and team leader.
The transition to veterinary services in 2022 marked a return to a longstanding personal goal.
“I always wanted to be a vet tech,” Bermudez said. “I like helping animals and being the voice, they don’t have.”
In 2023, she arrived in Baumholder, where her role quickly expanded beyond clinical duties.
Within a short period, Bermudez was placed in positions of significant responsibility, including serving as a noncommissioned officer in charge. Colleagues describe her leadership style as direct and approachable, with a consistent emphasis on safety and accountability. Bermudez said she prioritizes mentorship, particularly for junior Soldiers.
“I enjoy teaching people and helping them learn something new,” she said. “That’s something I make time for.”
Her professional scope extends into the broader military community. Bermudez regularly participates in town halls and garrison events and plays an active role in organizing training. She recently helped coordinate three international Canine Tactical Combat Casualty Care events, bringing together partners to strengthen readiness and interoperability.
These responsibilities coincide with major milestones in her personal life. In January 2023, Bermudez learned she was expecting a child; she gave birth in August of the same year. At the same time, she began pursuing an associate degree, adding academic demands to an already full schedule.
Much of that work takes place after hours. “After my child goes to bed, that’s when I focus on school,” she said. While she acknowledges that time management can be a challenge, she has developed strategies to stay on track. “I make lists and turn things into a competition with myself,” she said.
Bermudez credits her ability to manage competing priorities to a strong support system at home. Part of a dual-military household, she described her husband as a critical partner in maintaining balance. “If I can’t give 100 percent, he’ll pick up the rest,” she said. “That support makes everything possible.”
Despite the demands of her current role, Bermudez is focused on long-term goals. She expects to complete her associate degree soon and plans to become a licensed veterinary technician. Looking ahead, she hopes to attend veterinary school and return to the Army as a commissioned officer.
Her outlook reflects a broader perspective on service and adaptability.
“The Army teaches you how to work through different situations and adjust,” she said. “It’s an organization that continues to change with the times.”
For Bermudez, the most meaningful aspect of her work lies in its impact, whether through patient care, mentorship or everyday interactions. “You have an effect on people, even in small ways,” she said. “Something as simple as saying ‘good morning’ can make a difference.”
As she continues to navigate the demands of military service, education and family life, Bermudez’s trajectory underscores a consistent theme: a willingness to take on challenges, adapt quickly and invest in others along the way.
Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division
U.S. Attorneys Prosecute Defendants in New Jersey, Colorado, Florida, and Missouri
The Justice Department’s National Fraud Enforcement Division announced the following actions of the Department of Justice across the country today to hold individuals accountable for schemes that attempted or succeeded in defrauding taxpayer-funded programs of over $260 million.
“The National Fraud Enforcement Division will vigorously pursue those who steal taxpayer dollars. We will find you and bring you to justice for the American people,” said Colin McDonald, Assistant Attorney General for the National Fraud Enforcement Division.
In the District of New Jersey: U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer announced that tax preparer Leon Haynes, 52, of Teaneck, New Jersey, who sought more than $170 million in fraudulent COVID-19-related tax refunds was sentenced today to 12 years in prison. Haynes was also ordered to pay more than $55 million in restitution to the Internal Revenue Service. Following a six-day jury trial in November 2025 before U.S. District Judge William J. Martini, Haynes was convicted of 15 counts of aiding and assisting in the preparation and presentation of false tax returns, one count of mail fraud, and two counts of tax evasion. This is the largest COVID-19 tax relief fraud case to be tried to date in the country.
In the District of Colorado: U.S. Attorney Peter McNeilly announced that Ikponmwosa Erhinmwinrose, 39, of Atlanta, Georgia, and Nyerhovwo Presley Agbure, 34, of Atlanta, Georgia, were each sentenced in connection with a fraud ring that stole millions in government funds and victimized thousands of people nationwide. Erhinmwinrose will spend 17 years in federal prison, and Agbure will spend 57 months in federal prison for their involvement in this fraud ring.
According to the evidence presented at the trial and sentencing of Erhinmwinrose, he and other conspirators, including Agbure, applied for more than $90 million in government benefits and stole more than $7.6 million in government benefits from the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program, multiple state unemployment insurance programs including from the state of Colorado, and tax refunds. The PPP and EIDL are economic relief programs launched by the federal government in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In the Middle District of Florida: U.S. Attorney Gregory Kehoe announced that Viviana Barnwell was sentenced this morning in Tampa to two years in prison. Barnwell’s adult son, P.C., was a beneficiary of Social Security disability benefits. P.C. went missing in 2016 and remains missing to this day. Despite reporting him missing to the local police, Barnwell concealed his death from the Social Security Administration, which continued to make monthly benefit payments onto P.C.’s debit card. Barnwell had control of that card and used it to withdraw and spend P.C.’s benefits for her own use. The total loss was $96,186.
In the Eastern District of Missouri: U.S. Attorney Thomas Albus announced that the owner of a fossil replica company was indicted Wednesday and accused of fraudulently seeking disability benefits. Scott A. Taylor, 50, is still on probation from a prior disability fraud case. In September 2025, Taylor pleaded guilty to one felony count of theft of government money. In December 2025, Taylor was sentenced to five years of probation and ordered to repay $106,923 to the Social Security Administration. The new indictment accuses Taylor of applying for Social Security disability benefits in January 2026, falsely claiming that he had not worked since 1993.
A charge set forth in an indictment is merely an accusation and does not constitute proof of guilt. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The Department of Justice has created the National Fraud Enforcement Division. The core mission of the Fraud Division is to zealously investigate and prosecute those who steal or fraudulently misuse taxpayer dollars. The Fraud Division will fulfill that mission by coordinating with agencies responsible for administering benefit programs; partnering with federal, tribal, state, territorial, and local law enforcement on fraud-fighting efforts; developing systems and processes that ensure efficient identification of fraud against taxpayer dollars; and equipping prosecutors and law enforcement with state-of-the-art tools and resources needed to bring criminal actors to justice.
Department of Justice efforts to combat fraud support President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.