Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

WASHINGTON – The Justice Department announced today that it filed legal action against Governor Gavin Newsom and Secretary of State Shirley Weber for the State of California’s newly adopted redistricting plan enacted with the passage of Proposition 50. The suit alleges that the plan mandates racially gerrymandered congressional districts in violation of the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

Proposition 50 amends the California Constitution, allowing the legislature to draw a new congressional-district map. Substantial evidence, including that in the legislative record and public statements, indicate that the legislature created a new map in which Latino demographics and racial considerations predominated, in violation of the Equal Protection Clause.

“California’s redistricting scheme is a brazen power grab that tramples on civil rights and mocks the democratic process,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “Governor Newsom’s attempt to entrench one-party rule and silence millions of Californians will not stand.”

“Race cannot be used as a proxy to advance political interests, but that is precisely what the California General Assembly did with Prop 50,” said Jesus A. Osete, Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights. “Californians were sold an illegal, racially gerrymandered map, but the U.S. Constitution prohibits its use in 2026 and beyond.”

“The race-based gerrymandered maps passed by the California legislature are unlawful and unconstitutional,” said First Assistant United States Attorney Bill Essayli of the Central District of California. “The U.S. Department of Justice is moving swiftly to prevent these illegal maps from tainting our upcoming elections. California is free to draw congressional maps, but they may not be drawn based on race.”

The Department’s motion to intervene in Tangipa et al v Newsom is pending before the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California.

Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon has been recused from this case. Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Jesus A. Osete will represent the Department on this matter. 

Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

Orlando, Florida – U.S. District Judge Carlos E. Mendoza has sentenced David Andrew Ogden (40, Winter Park) to 170 years in federal prison for production and possession of child sexual abuse material. Ogden pleaded guilty on August 20, 2025.

According to court documents, on September 8, 2024, Ogden entered an apartment without permission where three minor children were sleeping. He began touching two of the children and used his cellphone to produce child sexual abuse material (CSAM) of them. Following Ogden’s arrest later that night, a search warrant was executed on his cellphone which revealed additional CSAM Ogden had produced in 2022 and 2024 involving two other minor children. Ogden’s phone also contained more than1,000 AI-generated CSAM images and 10 AI-generated videos, some of which portrayed the abuse of children between the ages of 2 and 6 years old.

This case was investigated by Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Winter Park Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Megan Testerman. The forfeiture was handled by Assistant United States Attorney Nicole Andrejko.

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 Attorney’s 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.justice.gov/psc.

Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

Kris Roglieri Is the Third Defendant to Plead Guilty to Participating in the Scheme

Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

PITTSBURGH, Pa. – A former resident of Youngstown, Ohio, was sentenced to 480 months in federal prison for distributing fentanyl resulting in death and conspiring to distribute large quantities of fentanyl, fluorofentanyl, and cocaine, Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.

Senior United States District Judge Arthur J. Schwab imposed the sentence on Eliot Gentry, 28, who previously pleaded guilty in the case to distributing fentanyl resulting in death in Mercer County, Pennsylvania, on January 23, 2022, and conspiring to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl, 100 grams or more of fluorofentanyl, and five kilograms or more of cocaine between May 2021 and October 2022. Judge Schwab also ordered Gentry to serve five years of supervised release following his prison term.

According to information presented to the Court, Gentry—who had prior convictions and state prison sentences for violent and drug trafficking crimes—orchestrated and operated a multi-state drug trafficking scheme throughout much of 2021 and 2022 involving large quantities of fentanyl, fluorofentanyl, and cocaine in Mercer and Lawrence counties of Pennsylvania and Youngstown, Ohio. This included the trafficking of fentanyl that led directly to the death of an individual in Western Pennsylvania in January 2022.

As part of the large-scale illegal activities, Gentry employed dealers, including juveniles, to work traphouses he established in Mercer County. The traphouses, along with Gentry’s residence, were stocked not only with narcotics, but also with firearms for use in intimidating rivals and enforcing payment as needed.

Gentry continued to operate the drug trafficking scheme even while incarcerated for a brief time in 2022, and also continued to engage in criminal misconduct following his indictment in federal court and detainment pending trial and sentencing. He was repeatedly sanctioned for possessing contraband, including controlled substances and a weapon, while detained in local detention facilities.

Assistant United States Attorney Craig W. Haller prosecuted this case on behalf of the United States.

Acting United States Attorney Rivetti commended the Federal Bureau of Investigation; Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General; United States Postal Inspection Service; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; Lawrence County Drug Task Force; Mercer County Drug Task Force; New Castle Police Department; Sharon Police Department, and Pennsylvania State Police for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Gentry.

Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

BUFFALO, N.Y.–U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that James Clemons, a/k/a James Brown a/k/a Womp, 45, of Buffalo, NY, who was convicted of possession with intent to distribute, and distribution of, fentanyl, was sentenced to serve 60 months in prison by U.S. District Judge John L. Sinatra, Jr.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Donna Duncan, who handled the case, stated that in February and March 2023, investigators with the New York State Police conducted four controlled purchases of fentanyl from Clemons. On March 4, 2023, Clemons was operating a Porsche Cayenne in Lancaster, NY. A Lancaster Police officer conducted a stop on the vehicle because the Porsche did not have an up-to-date inspection. The officer discovered that Clemons’ license had been revoked, and he was arrested. The officer search Clemons and recovered $1,720.50 in cash. A search of the vehicle recovered plastic bags of suspected fentanyl, and drug paraphernalia. On March 31, 2023, Clemons was arrested on a federal arrest warrant by the FBI, which seized multiple bags of suspected narcotics from Clemons.

The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Philip Tejera, the New York State Police, under the direction of Major Amie Feroleto, and the Lancaster Police Department, under the direction of Chief William Gummo.

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Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

PENSACOLA, FLORIDA – Austin James McCastler II, 36, was convicted by a federal jury on two counts of distribution of methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and marijuana, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense, possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon, attempted prevention of the government’s authority to take property during an authorized search and seizure, assault with a deadly weapon of a Special Agent of the Drug Enforcement Administration, and discharging a firearm during a violent crime. John Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, announced the verdict today.

US Attorney Heekin said: “This case exemplified the extreme dangers faced by the brave men and women of law enforcement who put their lives on the line every day to keep our communities safe from violent criminals. I am incredibly proud of the outstanding trial work by the talented prosecutors in my office that resulted in this successful verdict.”

Trial testimony and evidence revealed that, after undercover law enforcement purchased methamphetamine from McCastler’s Pensacola residence on two occasions, a search warrant was obtained to search for and seize illicit narcotics from his home. On March 7, 2025, law enforcement attempted to execute the lawful warrant. McCastler would not comply with orders to surrender to law enforcement, and he armed himself with his American Tactical Imports assault rifle. As law enforcement surrounded the residence, McCastler opened fire, including one shot intended for the DEA Special Agent. McCastler then fled from the residence, jumped in his vehicle, and a high-speed chase ensued. The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office was immediately on the tail of McCastler and eventually immobilized his vehicle in traffic. McCastler then tried to flee on foot, but law enforcement captured him. A search of his residence ultimately revealed the loaded assault rifle, a second firearm, dozens of rounds of ammunition, fentanyl, and marijuana, amongst other things.

McCastler is scheduled for sentencing on February 10, 2026, before United States District Judge M. Casey Rodgers. McCastler, who has more than five prior state felony convictions, faces up to life imprisonment.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, the Pensacola Police Department, and the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorneys David L. Goldberg and Jessica S. Etherton prosecuted the case.

This case is part of Operation Take Back America (https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline ) a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access available public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.

Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

Ocala, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces the return of an indictment charging Adam Santiago Lugo (41, Ocala) with aiming a laser pointer at an aircraft. If convicted, Santiago Lugo faces a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison. 

According to the indictment, on August 2, 2025, Santiago Lugo knowingly aimed the beam of a laser pointer at an aircraft in the special aircraft jurisdiction of the United States. The specific aircraft was a helicopter operated by the Marion County Sheriff’s Office.

An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.

This case was investigated by the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, the Federal Air Marshals, and Homeland Security Investigations. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Robert E. Bodnar, Jr.

NOTE: This matter occurred on a previous date but not published at that time due to government shutdown. Press release posted and made available following the return to normal operations. 

Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

BOSTON – The former Chairman of the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe and former President of the Tribe’s Gaming Authority was sentenced on Nov. 5, 2025 for extortion in connection with the First Light Resort and Casino, which the Tribe’s Gaming Authority is building in Taunton, as well as for failing to report hundreds of thousands of dollars of income on his federal income tax returns – most of which was related to the casino project.

Cedric Cromwell, 60, of Attleboro, Mass., was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton to 42 months in prison to be followed by one year of supervised release. The defendant was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $270,763, and to pay $51,849 in a forfeiture money judgment.

In March 2021, a federal grand jury sitting in Boston indicted Cromwell on tax charges and charges that he extorted Robinson Green Beretta Corp. (RGB), an architecture-and-design firm that had a contract to serve as the Gaming Authority’s “owner’s representative” for the casino project. The trial court severed the tax counts from the extortion counts, which went to trial in the spring of 2022.

On May 5, 2022, a federal jury convicted Cromwell of three counts of extortion under color of official right and one count of conspiracy to commit extortion under color of official right, finding that he had extorted RGB into paying him $50,000 in 2014-2015, giving him a $1,700 Bowflex Revolution home gym in 2016 and paying for a weekend stay at an upscale Boston hotel in 2017. The trial court dismissed the jury’s convictions, but the First Circuit Court of Appeals reinstated them on Sept. 27, 2024. Cromwell filed a petition with the U.S. Supreme Court but the Court declined to hear his appeal.

In July 2025, Cromwell pleaded guilty to four counts of filing a false tax return, admitting that he failed to report more than $177,000 in income on his federal income tax returns for 2014 – 2017. Cromwell’s unreported income included $57,549 that he extorted from RGB, $45,023 that he received from the architect on the casino project and $74,821 that he received from a company that sold forest carbon offsets.

United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division; and Thomas Demeo, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, Boston Field Office made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christine Wichers and Jared C. Dolan of the Criminal Division prosecuted the case. 

Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

Baltimore, Maryland – Patients Choice Laboratories (PCL), a diagnostic laboratory headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana, agreed to pay the United States $9,620,000 to resolve allegations that it violated the False Claims Act and the Anti-Kickback Statute (AKS).

Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, and Tom Wheeler, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana, announced the settlement with Special Agent in Charge Maureen Dixon, Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG), and Mario M. Pinto, Special Agent in Charge, HHS-OIG – Chicago Regional Office.

The government alleges that PCL knowingly submitted claims to Medicare for respiratory pathogen panels (RPPs) that were either medically unnecessary or obtained through kickbacks. PCL also paid commissions to independent sales representatives and marketing firms (1099 representatives) based on the volume or value of referrals.

Specifically, the United States alleges that on November 20, 2020, PCL entered into a Marketing Services Agreement (MSA) with a purported infection prevention company (the Company). Through the MSA, PCL agreed to pay $5,000 per month in exchange for “marketing and management services” in long-term care facilities. In reality, according to the United States, the MSA served as a pretext for paying the company for laboratory test referrals, which PCL then billed to Medicare.

Additionally, the United States alleges that PCL paid the Company to perform services in long-term care facilities, including specimen collection for infectious disease testing. The Company swabbed residents for COVID-19, and PCL used the same specimens to conduct and bill Medicare for medically unnecessary RPPs. In some cases, PCL billed for RPPs without performing any COVID-19 tests at all.

Between December 1, 2020, and May 11, 2022, PCL paid the company approximately $1.86 million in exchange for RPP referrals. During this time, PCL billed Medicare for thousands of RPPs conducted at 43 long-term care facilities nationwide, receiving more than $6 million in reimbursement.

Additionally, from January 1 to March 31, 2021, PCL contracted with 1099 representatives to promote its laboratory tests to health care providers. The United States alleges that these individuals were not bona fide employees. PCL paid them a percentage of the revenue generated from testing they facilitated. The representatives helped arrange referrals and orders for tests billed to Medicare in violation of the AKS. PCL’s commission payments to these representatives totaled at least $372,000.

“Providing impermissible compensation to induce patient referrals that then lead to medically unnecessary diagnostic tests is simply unacceptable,” Hayes said. “We’re committed to taking the necessary actions to protect patients and taxpayer-funded government health programs.” 

“Kickback arrangements that drive unnecessary testing waste taxpayer dollars and undermine the integrity of our healthcare system,” Wheeler said. “This settlement reflects our commitment to holding accountable those who seek to profit at the expense of federal healthcare programs and the patients they serve.”

“Entities who submit false Medicare claims destroy public trust in federal health care programs and divert taxpayer-funded resources away from vulnerable citizens who truly need them,” Dixon said. “We are unwavering in our dedication to safeguarding the integrity of the Medicare trust fund and the services provided to enrollees.”

“Wasteful spending fueled by kickback arrangements undermines the public’s confidence in our health care system and depletes valuable resources that should be used to improve patient care,” Pinto said.  “Working together with our law enforcement partners, HHS-OIG will continue to identify and investigate alleged violations of federal law.”

U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the HHS-OIG for its work in the investigation.  Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tarra DeShields, District of Maryland, and Adriana Figueroa, Southern District of Indiana; and Trial Attorneys Kelly McAuliffe and Asha Natarajan, DOJ Civil Division – Fraud Section, who jointly handled this case. 

The United States’ settlement in this matter illustrates the government’s emphasis on combating healthcare fraud. One of the most powerful tools in this effort is the False Claims Act. Tips and complaints from all sources about potential fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement, can be reported to the Department of Health and Human Services, at 800-HHS-TIPS (800-447-8477).

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

For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to report fraud, visit justice.gov/usao-md and justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.

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Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

Defendant hacked computer networks, stole millions of records containing confidential and personally identifiable information and caused $14 million in damages