Category: MIL-OSI

Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

A California woman was sentenced today to the statutory maximum sentence after pleading guilty to transmitting an interstate threat to a United States District Judge based in the Northern District of Texas, announced Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Nancy E. Larson.

Dolly Patterson admitted in court that on or about April 16, 2023, she knowingly sent a threatening message via an online “Contact Us” form directed at a federal judge in Amarillo.  The message, transmitted from California to Texas, read: “Tell that anti-abortion judge he better watch his back . . . for the rest of his life!”
Ms. Patterson acknowledged that she sent the message with the intent that it be perceived as a genuine threat and with knowledge that it would be viewed as such.  She further agreed that the communication constituted a true threat to injure another person under federal law.

“The safety of our federal judiciary is paramount,” said Acting United States Attorney Nancy Larson.  “Threats of violence to our judges are becoming all too common—whether made online or in person.  Such threats are illegal and will be prosecuted.”

The investigation was conducted by the United States Marshals Service.
 

Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

Two men who distributed fentanyl that caused the death of a seventeen-year-old boy were sentenced to federal prison on September 29, 2025, announced Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Nancy E. Larson.  

Tecose Dchaz Martin, 38, of Mesquite, Texas, was sentenced to 360 months in federal prison for his role in distributing fentanyl that led to the teen’s death, an offense to which he pled guilty in July 2025.  In addition to this offense, his criminal history includes numerous prior drug felony convictions.  Connor Miller, 22, of Richardson, Texas, likewise pled guilty in May 2025 to aiding and abetting the distribution of fentanyl resulting in the seventeen-year-old’s death.  Miller was sentenced to 151 months in federal prison.  Senior United States District Judge David C. Godbey sentenced both men.  

According to plea documents and evidence presented in Court at sentencing, on January 30, 2024, Miller contacted co-defendant Jesse Medina, also known as “Plug,” to purchase fentanyl.  Medina agreed to sell Miller the pills.  Miller and a seventeen-year-old boy then travelled to meet Medina at a location on Harry Hines Boulevard in Dallas, Texas.  Once there, Medina sold Miller and the teenager four fentanyl pills in exchange for $40.  Miller and the teen travelled back to Miller’s residence, where they crushed up and used the fentanyl pills Medina had provided.  The seventeen-year-old died after using the fentanyl.  A review of the teen’s medical records revealed that he would not have died but for ingesting the fentanyl.     

Electronic evidence gathered during the investigation allowed investigators to trace the fentanyl pills sold by Medina to Tecose Dchaz Martin, a/k/a “Blues Man.”  Evidence presented in court revealed that Martin told a person identified as Moe, “We can get rich off blues [fentanyl pills],” about 10 minutes after sending Moe a message that contained a link to a news story from Denver, Colorado.  

Information presented in court also revealed that Martin purchased fentanyl pills in quantities of 1,000 for $1.50 to $1.60 per pill.  Martin then sold those pills to lower-level dealers such as Jesse Medina in varying quantities for $2 to $5 per pill.  Martin admitted that he liked to sell fentanyl pills in larger quantities because he felt that there was “more chance of somebody O.D.’ing [overdosing]” for people who purchase four or five pills at a time.  As such, Martin told officers he “didn’t really doodle in five and four” because he would rather have someone else deal with “all that.” 

At the time of Martin’s arrest, officers located 88 fentanyl pills on Martin’s person, 805 fentanyl pills at his apartment, and two firearms.  Court records reflect that Martin had multiple prior drug-related felony convictions, including a 2017 state court conviction for manufacturing or delivering a controlled substance in a drug-free zone.  Martin received a 25-year sentence for that offense and was on parole at the time that he was selling fentanyl to Jesse Medina and others. 

“Lengthy prison sentences are one step in our continuing fight against the deadly consequences of fentanyl trafficking,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Nancy E. Larson.  “Every trafficker removed from the drug trade is a victory for our community.  I commend the tireless work of our law enforcement partners in this investigation, which enabled my office to bring these defendants to justice.  Our efforts won’t stop until the flood of deadly drugs into our community stops.”

“Fentanyl is the single deadliest drug threat our nation has ever encountered,” said Joseph B. Tucker, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Dallas Field Division. “The sentences handed down to Mr. Miller and Mr. Martin is a clear message the production and trafficking of fentanyl will not be tolerated in our neighborhoods.  DEA and all our law enforcement partners, such as the Richardson Police Department and the United States Attorney’s Office in the Northern District of Texas, will continue to work together to keep this poison off our streets.”

“This sentencing sends a strong and necessary message to those who peddle poison in our communities: actions that result in the loss of life will be met with the full force of justice,” said Richardson Police First Assistant Chief Michael Bussiere. “We are proud to have worked alongside our federal, state, and local partners in bringing this case to a just conclusion.  While no sentence can undo the heartbreak suffered by the victim’s family, we hope this outcome provides some measure of accountability and peace.”

The Drug Enforcement Administration’s Dallas Field Division and the Richardson Police Department conducted the investigation of this case with the Hickory Creek Police Department, the Dallas Police Department, the Dallas County District Attorney’s Office, the Mesquite Police Department, and the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigations Section.  Special assistance was provided by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Cellular Analysis Survey Team.   The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney George Leal.
 

Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

DETROIT – Dorian Trevor Sykes, 42, of Detroit, Michigan, pleaded guilty today to four counts of bank and credit union robbery and an attempted bank robbery, announced United States Attorney Jerome F. Gorgon.

Gorgon was joined in the announcement by Reuben C. Coleman, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Detroit Field Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

According to court documents, between March 6 and 12, 2025, Sykes robbed two credit unions and one bank of over $20,000 and attempted to rob one bank. In the last two incidents, Sykes used a high-end luxury car – rented at over $1,000 per day – which he also used to lead police on a high-speed chase.

Sentencing is scheduled for March 17, 2026. A conviction for bank and credit union robbery or attempted bank robbery carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, or both.

This case was investigated by the FBI Macomb County Gang and Violent Crime Task Force, with assistance from Sterling Heights Police Department, Livonia Police Department, Redford Township Police Department, and Lathrup Village Police Department. This case was prosecuted by the Violent and Major Crimes Unit of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan. 

Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

United States Attorney W. Stephen Muldrow released the following statement regarding the continuing operations of the Puerto Rico U.S. Attorney’s Office during a lapse in appropriations:

The Department of Justice, including the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Puerto Rico, is comprised of components that have a broad array of national security, law enforcement, criminal justice, and other responsibilities. The Department’s mission is to enforce the law and defend the interests of the United States, to protect the public from all threats – foreign and domestic, to provide federal leadership in preventing crime and prosecuting criminals, including the protection of human life and property, and to ensure the fair and impartial administration of justice for all.

Notwithstanding the lapse in Congressional appropriations, the public safety mission in Puerto Rico will continue to be carried out without interruption. The dedicated and hard working personnel in the U.S. Attorney’s Office and all of our federal law enforcement partner agencies will remain steadfast and will not relent.

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Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

Baltimore, Maryland – U.S. District Judge Richard D. Bennett sentenced Harold Dotson, 54, of Gaithersburg Maryland, to three years in federal prison, followed by three years supervised release — including six months of home confinement — in connection with a conspiracy to commit wire fraud affecting financial institutions. The fraud involved submitting more than $24 million in fraudulent CARES Act loan applications.  Judge Bennett also ordered Dotson to pay $24,807,432 in restitution.

Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the sentence with Special Agent in Charge William J. DelBagno, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) – Baltimore Field Office.

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act — a federal law enacted in March 2020 — provided emergency financial assistance to Americans suffering from the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. It gives financial assistance including forgivable loans to small businesses for job retention and other expenses. Established by the CARES Act, the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) — administered through the Small Business Administration (SBA) — along with the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL), helped businesses meet their financial obligations. An EIDL advance does not have to be repaid, and small businesses can receive an advance, even if they are not approved for an EIDL loan. The maximum advance amount is $10,000.

According to the plea agreement and other court documents, beginning in April 2020, and continuing through January 2022, Dotson engaged in multiple wire fraud conspiracies. These conspiracies involved submitting fraudulent loan applications for various COVID-19 relief benefits, including EIDL and PPP loans.

Dotson, an accountant and tax preparer, served as the owner and principal of H&M Tax Service LLC (H&M Tax), doing business as H&M Financial Group, LLC — a tax preparation business — during the time frame of the conspiracies. He used his accountant expertise to assist with preparing numerous false and fraudulent EIDL and PPP applications for purported businesses that did not exist in any legitimate capacity.

The fraudulent loan applications included false information about the phony businesses’ number of employees, monthly payroll costs, and revenue.   Dotson also routinely created false and fraudulent Internal Revenue Service tax forms. He created the fraudulent tax forms for co-conspirator Ahmed Sary, 47, of Brooklyn, Maryland, and other co-conspirators to submit with the false PPP applications.

In return, Dotson received a percentage of the fraudulent loan proceeds, ranging from 2 to 27 percent. Through the scheme, Dotson received more than $828,498.95 from the co-conspirators.  Then Dotson primarily used the fraudulent funds to gamble at various casinos in Maryland, including Maryland Live, the Horseshoe, and MGM National Harbor. He also used the money for a gambling trip to Las Vegas.

Dotson’s conspiracy with Sary resulted in the disbursement of $14,807,609.37 in fraudulently obtained PPP funds in connection with more than 85 fraudulent PPP loans. Additionally, Dotson’s conspiracy with another co-conspirator resulted in the disbursement of at least 30 fraudulent PPP loans valued at least $6,499,823.12. More than $3,500,000 was funded and disbursed in connection with Dotson’s submission of fraudulent EIDL applications.

In June 2024, Judge Bennett sentenced Sary to seven years in federal prison in connection with the conspiracy.

The District of Maryland Strike Force is one of five strike forces established throughout the United States by the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate and prosecute COVID-19 fraud, including fraud relating to the CARES Act. The CARES Act was designed to provide emergency financial assistance to Americans suffering the economic effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.  The strike forces focus on large-scale, multi-state pandemic relief fraud perpetrated by criminal organizations and transnational actors.  The strike forces are interagency law enforcement efforts, using prosecutor-led and data analyst-driven teams designed to identify and bring to justice those who stole pandemic relief funds. 

For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit justice.gov/coronavirus. Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form. 

U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the FBI, SBA-OIG and the Baltimore County Police Department for their work in the investigation.  Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Paul A. Riley and Joseph L. Wenner, who are prosecuting the case, and recognized Paralegal Specialist Julie Jarman and Joanna Huber for their valuable assistance.

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

ANCHORAGE, Alaska – A Pennsylvania man was criminally charged by information today with seven counts of wire fraud connected to a 2022 Permanent Fund Dividend (PFD) fraud scheme.

According to court documents, beginning in January 2022 and continuing through February 2022, Adepoju Babatunde Salako, 33, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, allegedly devised a scheme to defraud the Alaska Department of Revenue (DOR) PFD program. Specifically, Salako fraudulently obtained the personal identifying information (PII) for legitimate Alaskan residents and submitted seven separate applications to the Alaska DOR to obtain their PFD funds. Salako was never an Alaskan resident and has never traveled to Alaska.

Court documents detail that Salako allegedly created new email accounts that he controlled for each legitimate Alaska resident whose PII he fraudulently obtained. Using the PII, Salako allegedly gained control of at least seven already established “myAlaska” online accounts—the platform Alaska residents use to apply for the PFD. Once inside the accounts, Salako allegedly changed the account information to route communications from “myAlaska” directly to the email accounts he controlled for each individual. Salako also allegedly changed each applicant’s bank information to route the PFD payments to bank accounts he controlled.

Court documents further allege that Salako tried to shield his identity and location by using a Virtual Private Network (VPN) to appear as though six of the seven application submissions were submitted from an Internet Protocol (IP) address in Alaska. The other application was submitted using an IP address in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Records from Salako’s personal email account showed logins from the same Philadelphia IP address.

The State of Alaska determined the applications to be fraudulent and denied the applications.

Salako faces up to 20 years in prison and up to a $250,000 fine for each count of wire fraud. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

U.S. Attorney Michael J. Heyman of the District of Alaska, Special Agent in Charge Rebecca Day of the FBI Anchorage Field Office and Acting Commissioner Janelle Earls of the Alaska Department of Revenue made the announcement.

The FBI Anchorage Field Office and State of Alaska Department of Revenue, Criminal Investigations Unit investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Ainsley McNerney is prosecuting the case.

If you suspect you’ve been a victim of PFD fraud, contact the Alaska Department of Revenue, Criminal Investigations Unit. Online Fraud Tips can be filed at https://pfd.alaska.gov/fraud-tip-form. You can also contact the Fraud Hotline: (907) 500-0360.

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Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – On Sept. 30, 2025, a Springfield, Mo., resident, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Stephen Bough, to a period of imprisonment for 15 months, for his theft of mail matter from residential post office boxes.

Anthony Renell Williams, 45, pleaded guilty to a single count indictment on March 31, 2025, charging him with theft of mail on March 16, 2023.  Williams was observed by several Springfield, Mo., residence walking throughout various neighborhoods and stopping at the post office boxes of several residence. Witnesses contacted the Springfield, Missouri, Police Department to report the suspicious behavior. Springfield Police officers responded and were ultimately able to locate Williams and found he had stolen mail on his person.  Inspectors with the United States Postal Inspection Service conducted a further investigation and located security videos from local residences that captured images of Williams stealing mail from the post office boxes of local residences. Williams ultimately confessed to stealing mail, admitting that he had stolen the mail in order to commit fraud, and obtain money that could pay for his drug addiction.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick Carney. It was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), and the Springfield, Missouri, Police Department.

Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

Defendant fraudulently promised victims 100-200 percent or more in investment returns