Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division
DENVER – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces that Derrick Bernard, 36, of Colorado Springs was sentenced to 46 months in federal prison, three years of supervised release, and a $200 special assessment after being found guilty by a federal jury for conspiring to threaten or convey false information about a threat when he burned a cross in front of a Black political candidate’s campaign sign defaced with a racial slur and publicized the threatening activity. The cross burning took place on April 23, 2023, just over three weeks before the Colorado Springs mayoral runoff election was being held.
For 80 years, the Navy Exchange Service Command (NEXCOM), has supported readiness in ways that feel familiar, dependable and steady. Founded in the aftermath of World War II, NEXCOM’s origins were shaped by a simple but essential challenge: how to reliably support the Navy on land and at sea.
Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division
United States Attorney Kurt L. Wall announced that Kleider Enrique Garcia Ochoa, age 30, a Venezuelan national who is present in the United States without authorization, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Court Judge Brian A. Jackson to attempted coercion and enticement of a minor.
Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – On March 30, 2026, JESSICA LACOUR (“LACOUR”), age 38, currently of Texas and formerly of the Eastern District of Louisiana, was charged with participating in multiple acts of fraudulent conduct, including generating fake evidence for a lawsuit, stealing from two COVID-19 assistance programs, creating over $200,000 in fake store receipts, and misusing persons’ identities, announced U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle. The bill of information charges LACOUR with five counts of wire fraud, with each count alleging a different fraud scheme.
Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division
United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, and Acting Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (“HSI”), Michael Alfonso, announced today the unsealing of a Complaint charging RENATA SUPINA-SALTUS in connection with a long-running wire fraud scheme in which she fabricated invoices to embezzle approximately $750,000 from her then-employer, the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Croatia to the United Nations (the “PMRC”).
Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division
A former corrections officer at the Southern Regional Jail in Beaver, West Virginia pleaded guilty Monday for his role in a conspiracy in which he and other correctional officers would use unreasonable force against inmates, including pretrial detainees, as a form of punishment and retaliation. Michael Pack pleaded guilty to one count of violating 18 U.S.C. § 371.
According to his plea agreement and during the plea hearing, Pack acknowledged that he and his co-conspirators would strike, assault, and harm inmates they believed or perceived to have engaged in misconduct. As part of this conspiracy, Pack and his co-conspirators would bring inmates to “blind spots” – areas of the jail that were not captured on surveillance cameras – so that they could use unreasonable and unjustified force against the inmates without being recorded and thus avoid being held accountable for their actions.
Pack further admitted that, as part of the conspiracy, he and his co-conspirators would prepare false reports denying their unreasonable uses of force against inmates and failing to document injuries that inmates sustained during use of force incidents, so that the conspirators would not be investigated or held accountable for their actions.
Pack pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Omar J. Aboulhosn. He will be sentenced on July 24. According to his plea agreement, Pack faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.
Deputy Chief Christine M. Siscaretti and former Trial Attorney Sam Kuhn of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division prosecuted the case in partnership with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia.
Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division
The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri granted summary judgment to the Department of Justice and State of Wisconsin against Defendant Christopher Lee Carroll, finding he was a “mastermind” of an unlawful timeshare exit services scheme that harmed over 11,000 consumers. As part of its ruling, the court permanently enjoined Carroll from marketing timeshare exit services and from engaging in other unfair and deceptive trade practices. The court also ordered Carroll to pay over $95 million to redress harm caused to consumers and over $45 million in civil monetary penalties for his misconduct.
“The Justice Department will hold accountable anyone who uses unlawful high-pressure sales tactics and deception to take advantage of and exploit consumers,” said Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “Americans deserve to be treated fairly and honestly.”
In a memorandum and order, the district court held that Carroll was at the center of an unlawful enterprise that violated the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Act’s prohibition on unfair or deceptive trade practices, the federal Cooling-Off Rule’s requirement that consumers be given three business days to cancel certain purchases made at locations other than the seller’s regular place of business, and Wisconsin state laws concerning fraudulent misrepresentations and direct marketing.
The court found that Carroll and his co-defendants used high pressure tactics and false and misleading statements to induce consumers to pay from $5,000 to over $80,000 to businesses including Square One Group LLC, and Consumer Law Protection LLC, for a purported release or exit from the consumers’ timeshare contracts. Carroll and his co-defendants often did not actually provide those services, did not inform consumers of their right to cancel the sales contracts within three business days without penalty, and denied consumers refunds when they or law enforcement officials complained.
Carroll was the final remaining defendant in this action. The court previously also imposed permanent injunctions against seventeen other defendants. Those defendants include several interrelated corporate entities, which were also held liable for the over $140 million monetary judgment against Carroll, and four other individual defendants, who agreed to stipulated orders under which they are collectively liable for over $11 million in monetary penalties, partially suspended due to their demonstrated inability to pay.
The United States is represented in this action by Trial Attorneys Meredith L. Reiter and Zachary L. Cowan and Assistant Director Zachary A. Dietert, from the Enforcement Section of the Civil Division’s Enforcement and Affirmative Litigation Branch, in coordination with staff at the FTC. The United States was previously also represented by former Trial Attorney Wesline N. Manuelpillai. Lewis W. Beilin represents the State of Wisconsin.
Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division
Tampa, FL – Andres Correa (39, Lakeland) and Cassandra Kerr (46, Lakeland) have pleaded guilty to a string of Hobbs Act robberies that occurred in August 2025. Correa pleaded guilty to four Hobbs Act robberies, four counts of brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, possessing a firearm as a convicted felon, and conspiring to commit the robberies. Kerr pleaded guilty to two counts of Hobbs Act robbery, three counts of brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, and conspiring to commit the robberies. Sentencing dates have not yet been set. Each faces a maximum penalty of life in federal prison. United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.
TRZEBIEŃ, Poland — Soldiers at the U.S. Army Garrison Poland installation site in Trzebień, located within the Świętoszów Military Community, now have a safer and more effective workspace following upgrades to ventilation systems in maintenance tents, resolving a long-standing safety concern and improving operational conditions for rotational forces.
The issue, which dates back to earlier phases of U.S. presence in Poland, stemmed from maintenance tents that were not originally designed to support the demands of armored brigade operations. Over time, limited ventilation created potential risks for Soldiers conducting vehicle maintenance.
After multiple rotations encountered the same challenge, leaders and support partners took ownership of the issue and drove a coordinated effort to implement a lasting solution that directly supports Soldier safety and mission readiness.
The project included recanvasing Large Area Maintenance Shelter tents and installing heavy-duty fans and exhaust ventilation systems designed to support both light and heavy tactical vehicles. These upgrades eliminate the risk of carbon monoxide exposure and provide a properly ventilated environment for daily maintenance operations.
Leaders from rotational forces elevated the requirement and worked with U.S. Army Europe and Africa to secure resources, reinforcing a shared commitment to prioritizing Soldier safety and sustaining readiness across the garrison footprint.
Sustainment partners played a key role in execution. The Logistics Civil Augmentation Program team ensured technical requirements were met and coordinated contracting actions, maintaining momentum throughout the project. Installation-level coordination at Trzebień ensured alignment between supported units and higher headquarters, enabling timely completion.
The effort reflects how U.S. Army Garrison Poland delivers infrastructure and services across its distributed sites to enable V Corps readiness while operating in close coordination with contracted support systems and host-nation partners.
This improvement also demonstrates a repeatable approach for addressing similar challenges across the garrison. By aligning rotational forces, sustainment partners and installation teams, U.S. Army Garrison Poland continues to strengthen safe working environments for Soldiers while reinforcing a permanent, ready and resilient presence on NATO’s eastern flank.
Easter Sunday lunch is the centerpiece of the holiday in Tuscany, a time when families gather to share a meal that celebrates the arrival of spring. The menu often begins with antipasti featuring local cured meats, cheeses, and crostini topped with chicken liver pâté. The first course is typically a pasta dish, such as lasagna or pappardelle al ragù di cinghiale (wild boar sauce).
The main course often features roast lamb or goat, symbolizing renewal and sacrifice, served with seasonal vegetables like artichokes, asparagus, or roasted potatoes.
Eggs
Eggs play a central role in Tuscan Easter traditions, symbolizing rebirth and new beginnings. Hard-boiled eggs are often included in the Easter meal, either as part of a salad or as a standalone dish. In some families, children participate in decorating eggs, an activity that adds a splash of color to the festivities.
In Tuscany, as part of the Easter traditions, hardboiled eggs, and even chocolate ones are traditionally blessed during Easter Mass. These blessed eggs are then shared during the Easter meal.
Torta Pasqualina
Another Easter dish is the Torta Pasqualina, a savory pie that originates from nearby Liguria but is also enjoyed in Tuscany. This pie is made with puff pastry filled with ricotta, spinach, and whole eggs, which are baked into the filling. In many Tuscan families, the Torta Pasqualina is not just a delicious Easter dish but also a source of fun and tradition. After the pie is sliced, it often turns into a friendly competition to see who gets the slices with the most egg. The slices containing more of the baked whole eggs are considered the best and finding them is seen as a small victory at the table.
Schiacciata di Pasqua
One of the most iconic Easter treats in Tuscany is the Schiacciata di Pasqua, a sweet, aromatic bread that has been a staple of the holiday for generations. Despite its name, which translates to “Easter flatbread,” this delicacy is anything but flat. It is a tall, fluffy bread made with a rich dough of eggs, sugar, flour, and anise seeds. The dough is often left to rise multiple times, sometimes for up to 24 hours, resulting in its characteristic light and airy texture
One of the most iconic Easter treats in Tuscany is the… (Photo Credit: Chiara Mattirolo)VIEW ORIGINAL
Colomba Pasquale
No Tuscan Easter celebration is complete without the colomba Pasquale, a dove-shaped sweet bread that is the Easter counterpart to the Christmas panettone. Made with a similar dough enriched with butter, eggs, and candied orange peel, the colomba is topped with a crunchy almond glaze and pearl sugar. While it is a tradition across Italy, Tuscans take pride in sourcing high-quality, local ingredients to make their version of this dessert.
No Tuscan Easter celebration is complete without the… (Photo Credit: Chiara Mattirolo)VIEW ORIGINAL
After the Easter meal, another tradition in Tuscany is the exchange of chocolate eggs and the discovery of the surprises hidden inside. This moment is exciting for children, who eagerly crack open their eggs to reveal the small gifts or trinkets inside.