Category: MIL-OSI

Source: US FBI

LOS ANGELES – Law enforcement officials today announced the filing of 20 criminal cases so far this year targeting fentanyl dealers who are charged with selling fentanyl and fentanyl-laced pills that directly resulted in the death of at least one victim.

The cases being announced today are a result of the ongoing efforts of the OD Justice Task Force, a Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)-led project designed to investigate fatal fentanyl poisonings and identify the individuals who provided the fentanyl that directly caused the deaths.

Under the OD Justice program for the DEA’s Los Angeles Field Division, DEA agents have established collaborative relationships with local law enforcement agencies across the seven counties that make up the Central District of California. Local authorities are almost always the first to respond to an overdose death, and DEA agents have provided training to dozens of local agencies to help them analyze evidence to determine if there are circumstances that might lead to a federal criminal prosecution.

There were an estimated 80,391 drug overdose deaths in the United States during 2024 and most of those deaths were fentanyl related, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Since the project’s launch in 2018, and including the cases announced today, the United States Attorney’s Office has filed charges against 163 defendants who allegedly sold drugs that resulted in a fatal fentanyl poisoning.

The charge of distribution of fentanyl resulting in death carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years in federal prison and a statutory maximum sentence of life imprisonment.

The criminal cases filed this year include:

• United States v. McDevitt

Michael McDevitt, 43, of Simi Valley, is charged with distribution of fentanyl resulting in death. In September 2021, McDevitt allegedly distributed the powerful synthetic opioid in Ventura County to the victim, who later died. McDevitt also is charged with possession with intending to distribute methamphetamine. McDevitt has pleaded not guilty to the charges and a June 10 trial is scheduled in this matter. He has been in federal custody since April 11.

The Ventura County Sheriff’s Office and the DEA are investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Blake Hannah of the General Crimes Section is prosecuting this case.

• United States v. Biswas

Alexander Nihar Biswas, 42, of Loma Linda, is charged in a single-count indictment with distribution of fentanyl resulting in death. Biswas allegedly distributed the powerful narcotic to a victim in San Bernardino County. The use of the drug resulted in the victim’s death in January 2024. Biswas, who has been in federal custody since March 10, has pleaded not guilty to the charge and awaits an October 20 trial date in U.S. District Court in Riverside.

The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department and the DEA are investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Erin C. Kiss of the Riverside Branch Office is prosecuting this case.

• United States v. Abdallah

Michel Joseph Abdallah, 21, a.k.a. “Mike,” of Laguna Niguel, is charged in connection with the fentanyl overdose deaths of two people in 2023. Abdallah is charged with two counts of distribution of fentanyl resulting in death, two counts of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, and two counts of possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking crimes.

Abdallah allegedly distributed fentanyl to a victim on March 25, 2023, in Mission Viejo. The victim used the drug, which resulted in a fatal overdose. On May 15, 2023, in Aliso Viejo, Abdallah again distributed fentanyl – this time, to a different victim who ingested the powerful synthetic opioid and died. Abdallah also allegedly possessed a total of 1.3 kilograms (2.9 pounds) of fentanyl on June 10, 2023. On this date, he allegedly also possessed two firearms, including an AR-15-style pistol bearing no serial number, which commonly is referred to as a “ghost gun.”

He remains in state custody and awaits arraignment on the federal criminal charges.

The Orange County Sheriff’s Department, the Santa Ana Police Department, and the DEA are investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Lisa J. Lindhorst of the Orange County Office is prosecuting this case.

• United States v. Casillas

Jesus Erick Casillas, 56, of Lancaster, is charged with one count of distribution of fentanyl resulting in death, in connection with the overdose death of a victim in Los Angeles County in January 2024. Casillas, who has pleaded not guilty to the charge, has been in federal custody since January 24. He awaits an October 26 trial date.

The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and the DEA are investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Joseph S. Guzman of the General Crimes Section is prosecuting this case.

• United States v. Putnam

Macey Delynn Putnam, 31, of Laingsburg, Michigan and formerly of Torrance, is charged in connection with the July 24, 2024, fentanyl overdose death of a victim in Los Angeles County. Putnam, who is free on $25,000 bond, is charged with one count of distribution of fentanyl resulting in death and serious bodily injury. She has pleaded not guilty to the charge and is scheduled to go to trial on November 18.

The Long Beach Police Department, the DEA, and the FBI are investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Christina R.B. Lopez of the General Crimes Section is prosecuting this case.

• United States v. Miller

Myles Ray Miller, 27, of Fullerton, is charged in a federal grand jury indictment with one count of distribution of fentanyl resulting in death and one count of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. Miller allegedly distributed fentanyl to a victim – who was struggling with drug addiction – in Fullerton on March 18, 2022. The victim later ingested the powerful synthetic opioid and died.

The La Habra Police Department and the DEA are investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Lisa J. Lindhorst of the Orange County Office is prosecuting this case.

• United States v. Lopez, et al.

Kevin Lopez, 24, of Rancho Cucamonga, Jacqueline Carolina Fonseca-Flores, 24, of Rancho Cucamonga, and Brandon Ryan Osika, 22, of Ontario, were arrested May 7 on an indictment charging them with distribution of fentanyl to a person under the age of 21 resulting in death, among other federal drug crimes. The defendants – including Meloney Osika, 24, of Ontario, who also was arrested May 7 – allegedly ran a fentanyl distribution ring in San Bernardino County. Lopez, Flores, and Brandon Osika in January 2023 allegedly distributed fentanyl to a victim who took the drug and died soon afterward.

A federal magistrate judge ordered all four defendants jailed without bond. The defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges against them and a June 23 trial date was scheduled in this case.

The Fontana Police Department and the DEA are investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Christopher M. Brunwin of the Riverside Branch Office is prosecuting this case.

• United States v. Perez

Roberto Alexis Perez, 26, of Palmdale, is charged in a one-count indictment with distributing fentanyl on September 3, 2022, in Los Angeles County, which resulted in the victim’s death.

The DEA and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department are investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorneys Diane B. Roldán of the Violent and Organized Crime Section and Nicholas G. Purcell of the General Crimes Section are prosecuting this matter.

• United States v. Almazo

Waldo Jesus Almazo Casarubbias, 22, of Santa Ana, was arrested April 11 on a federal grand jury indictment charging him with one count of distribution of fentanyl resulting in death. Almazo allegedly distributed fentanyl to the victim on July 5, 2022, in Orange County. The use of the drug resulted in the victim’s death shortly thereafter. Almazo pleaded not guilty to the charge against him. A federal magistrate judge ordered him jailed without bond. Almazo is scheduled to go on trial in January 2026 in United States District Court in Santa Ana.

The Orange County Sheriff’s Department and the DEA are investigating this matter. Special Assistant United States Attorney Yervant P. Hagopian of the General Crimes Section is prosecuting this case.

• United States v. Hoskinds

Michael Hoskinds, 46, of San Pedro, was arrested April 8 on a one-count federal grand jury indictment charging him with distribution of fentanyl resulting in death. On August 12, 2023, in Los Angeles County, Hoskinds allegedly distributed the powerful controlled substance to a victim, who later ingested it, overdosed, and died.

A federal magistrate judge ordered Hoskinds jailed without bond. Hoskinds has pleaded not guilty to the charge against him. He is scheduled to go to trial on June 3 in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles on this matter.

Redondo Beach Police Department and DEA are investigating this case. Assistant United States Attorney Alix R. Sandman of the General Crimes Section is prosecuting this matter.

An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

Source: US FBI

      HELENA-WEST HELENA—A man who has served as local judge, prosecutor, and criminal defense attorney was sentenced to 24 months in federal prison for making false statements to the FBI. Jonathan D. Ross, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, announced the sentence, which was handed down on May 19, 2025, by United States District Court Judge D. Price Marshall Jr. There is no parole in the federal system.

      According to court documents and evidence presented at trial Thomas David Carruth, 64, of Clarendon, served as an elected Monroe County district court judge. In that role, Carruth presided over criminal and civil matters. In April 2022, Carruth met with the girlfriend of a defendant in a criminal case pending before him. The girlfriend sought Carruth’s assistance in getting her boyfriend’s case dismissed. During the meeting, which the girlfriend recorded, Carruth solicited sex and a lingerie show from her in exchange for assisting her boyfriend.

      Carruth asked the girlfriend, “How do you feel about sex?” and “The next step back from that is, do you have any nice lingerie? …Do you mind letting me see you in it?” He also asked the girlfriend, “So, if you change your mind about giving me a lingerie show…well, you got a body that can do it and if you have an attitude where you like to wear lingerie, I’d love to look – to see it on you…If you change your mind about seeing what an old man can do, you know…”

      The jury found that, when questioned by the FBI, Carruth lied to agents about the incident, including by falsely stating that he did not “request,” “ask,” “offer”, make “overture[s] about”, “insinuate,” or “even [think] about,” sex with the girlfriend.

      The jury convicted Carruth of one count of making false statements. Carruth was acquitted of charges of bribery, honest services fraud, and violations of the Travel Act.

      “When judges exploit their positions for personal gain, they pervert justice which erodes public trust in the judiciary,” said Ross. “The sentence underscores that no one, including a debauched judge, is above the law.”

      “Officials who violate the public’s trust for their own personal gain have no place in our Arkansas communities,” said Alicia D. Corder, Special Agent in Charge, FBI Little Rock Field Office. “FBI Little Rock will continue to work with members of the ArkTrust Public Corruption Task Force to protect Arkansans from corruption and hold perpetrators accountable for their actions.”

      This case was investigated by the FBI. This case was prosecuted by Senior Litigation Counsel Nicholas W. Cannon and Trial Attorney Madison H. Mumma of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section. They received substantial assistance from Assistant United States Attorney Julie Peters.

# # #

Additional information about the office of the

United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, is available online at

https://www.justice.gov/edar

X (formerly known as Twitter):

@USAO_EDAR 

Source: US FBI

      LITTLE ROCK—On May 7, 2025, the Department of Justice announced the results of Operation Restore Justice, a coordinated enforcement effort to identify, track and arrest child sex predators. The operation resulted in the rescue of 115 children and the arrests of 205 child sexual abuse offenders in the nationwide crackdown. The coordinated effort was executed over the course of five days by all 55 FBI field offices, the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section in the Department’s Criminal Division, and United States Attorney’s Offices around the country.

      “The Department of Justice will never stop fighting to protect victims — especially child victims — and we will not rest until we hunt down, arrest, and prosecute every child predator who preys on the most vulnerable among us,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “I am grateful to the FBI and their state and local partners for their incredible work in Operation Restore Justice and have directed my prosecutors not to negotiate.”

      “Every child deserves to grow up free from fear and exploitation, and the FBI will continue to be relentless in our pursuit of those who exploit the most vulnerable among us,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “Operation Restore Justice proves that no predator is out of reach and no child will be forgotten. By leveraging the strength of all our field offices and our federal, state and local partners, we’re sending a clear message: there is no place to hide for those who prey on children.”

      If you harm or exploit a child and we can find a way to federally prosecute you, we will,” said Jonathan D. Ross, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas. “Protecting children from predators is one of the most important responsibilities we have at the U.S. Attorney’s Office. The partnership among federal, state, and local law enforcement is crucial to bringing justice to the victims of these crimes.”

      “This operation is a testament to the efforts of the FBI and our dedicated law enforcement partners to protect children in our communities,” said FBI Little Rock Special Agent in Charge Alicia D. Corder. “FBI Little Rock will continue to prioritize these investigations, seek justice for victims and hold predators accountable for their actions.”

      As part of Operation Restore Justice, on May 6, 2025, the FBI in the Eastern District of Arkansas arrested a defendant that is alleged to have distributed large amounts of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) in a chatroom dedicated to the sexual exploitation of children.  The day he was arrested, the defendant possessed a cellular telephone that had multiple images of CSAM to include an image depicting a fully nude pre-pubescent female laying on her back. The image also depicted the pre-pubescent female’s hands and feet tied together with a white cord or rope and blindfolded.

      Others arrested around the country are alleged to have committed various crimes including the production, distribution, and possession of child sexual abuse material, online enticement and transportation of minors, and child sex trafficking. In Minneapolis, for example, a state trooper and Army Reservist was arrested for allegedly producing child sexual abuse material while wearing his uniforms. In Norfolk, VA, an illegal alien from Mexico is accused of transporting a minor across state lines for sex. In Washington, D.C., a former Metropolitan Police Department Police Officer was arrested for allegedly trafficking minor victims.

      In many cases, parental vigilance and community outreach efforts played a critical role in bringing these offenders to justice. For example, a California man was arrested about eight hours after a young victim bravely came forward and disclosed their abuse to FBI agents after an online safety presentation at a school near Albany, N.Y.

      This effort follows the Department’s observance of National Child Abuse Prevention Month in April, and underscores the Department’s unwavering commitment to protecting children and raising awareness about the dangers they face. While the Department, including the FBI, investigates and prosecutes these crimes every day, April serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of preventing these crimes, seeking justice for victims, and raising awareness through community education.

      The Justice Department is committed to combating child sexual exploitation. These cases were brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit www.justice.gov/psc.

      The Department partners with and oversees funding grants for the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), which receives and shares tips about possible child sexual exploitation received through its 24/7 hotline at 1-800-THE-LOST and on missingkids.org.

      The Department urges the public to remain vigilant and report suspected exploitation of a child through the FBI’s tipline at 1-800-CALL-FBI (225-5324), tips.fbi.gov, or by calling your local FBI field office.

      Other online resources:

      Electronic Press Kit

      Violent Crimes Against Children

      How we can help you: Parents and caregivers protecting your kids

 

An indictment is merely an allegation. The defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

# # #

Additional information about the office of the

United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, is available online at

https://www.justice.gov/edar

X (formerly known as Twitter):

@USAO_EDAR 

Source: US FBI

          GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN — Acting U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan Andrew Birge today announced that all five defendants charged with conspiring to launder proceeds for Nigerian sex extortionists have pleaded guilty.

• Dinsimore Guyton Robinson, 29, of Huntsville, Alabama, pleaded guilty on January 22, 2025.
• Kendall Ormond London, 32, of Lithonia, Georgia, pleaded guilty on March 26, 2025.
• Brian Keith Coldmon, Jr., 30, of Peachtree Corners, Georgia, pleaded guilty on March 28, 2025.
• Jarell Daivon Williams, 31, of McDonough, Georgia pleaded guilty on April 2, 2025.
• Johnathan Demetrius Green, 32, of Stone Mountain, Georgia, pleaded guilty on April 2, 2025.

          According to the Indictment, the conspirators used online payment systems to collect sextortion proceeds and send them to a Nigerian individual they referred to as “The Plug.” According to the Indictment, the sextortionists had boys and young men create nude images. After the sextortionists received those images, they allegedly had the victims send funds to the U.S.-based money launderers through online payment systems like Apple Pay, Cash App, and Zelle. The money launderers would keep about 20 percent of the money, convert the rest to bitcoin, and send the bitcoin to The Plug in Nigeria, who kept a portion and then sent the remainder to the sextortionists.

          The indictment alleges that conspirators laundered the funds of sextortion victims, including Jordan DeMay.  In November 2022, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Michigan charged three Nigerian nationals in a sextortion scheme that resulted in the death of Jordan DeMay, a 17-year-old high school student from Marquette, Michigan, and targeted more than 100 other victims. Two of the three defendants in that case were extradited to the United States in August 2023 and pled guilty in April 2024 and were later sentenced.

          “These individuals helped and profited from this awful, heartbreaking scheme and so they now will face the consequences,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Birge.  The conspiracy offense is punishable by up to 20 years in prison.  The court will decide the sentences upon consultation with federal sentencing guidelines and the individual circumstances.

          “Today’s guilty plea by the defendants serves as a strong reminder to anyone involved in sextortion or money laundering schemes,” said Cheyvoryea Gibson, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Michigan Division. “I want to express my sincere gratitude to the dedicated members of our FBI Detroit Cyber Task Force, as well as teams from the Grand Rapids Resident Agency, Lansing Resident Agency, Marquette Resident Agency, FBI Birmingham (Huntsville Resident Agency), and FBI Atlanta for their tireless efforts. We also deeply appreciate our partners at the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission of Nigeria and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Michigan. The FBI remains committed to protecting the American public and will continue to prioritize dismantling criminal networks that exploit our most vulnerable citizens.”

Safety Tips and Resources for Victims, Teens, and Parents

          The FBI provides the following tips on how people can protect themselves from sextortion schemes:

• Be selective about what you share online. If your social media accounts are open to everyone, a predator may be able to figure out a lot of information about you.
• Be wary of anyone you encounter for the first time online. Block or ignore messages from strangers.
• Be aware that people can pretend to be anything or anyone online. Videos and photos are not proof that people are who they claim to be. Images can be altered or stolen. In some cases, predators have even taken over the social media accounts of their victims.
• Be suspicious if you meet someone on one game or app and that person asks you to start talking on a different platform.
• Be in the know. Any content you create online—whether it is a text message, photo, or video—can be made public. And nothing actually “disappears” online. Once you send something, you don’t have any control over where it goes next.
• Be willing to ask for help. If you are getting messages or requests online that don’t seem right, block the sender, report the behavior to the site administrator, or go to an adult. If you have been victimized online, tell someone. Being a victim of sextortion is not your fault. You can get through this challenge, even if it seems scary and overwhelming. There are people who want to help.

          If you have information about or believe you are a victim of sextortion, contact your local FBI field office, call 1-800-CALL-FBI, or report it online at http://tips.fbi.gov. This FBI PSA and National Center for Missing and Exploited Children PSA share survivor stories and resources for individuals to get help. More FBI sextortion resources are available here.

          This case has been investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission of Nigeria. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Mekaru.

          The charges in an indictment are merely accusations, and the remaining defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in a court of law.

###

Source: US FBI

FORT SMITH – Today, the Department of Justice announced the results of Operation Restore Justice, a coordinated enforcement effort to identify, track and arrest child sex predators.  The operation resulted in the rescue of 115 children and the arrests of 205 child sexual abuse offenders in the nationwide crackdown.  The coordinated effort was executed over the course of five days by all 55 FBI field offices, the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section in the Department’s Criminal Division, and United States Attorney’s Offices around the country.

“The Department of Justice will never stop fighting to protect victims — especially child victims — and we will not rest until we hunt down, arrest, and prosecute every child predator who preys on the most vulnerable among us,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “I am grateful to the FBI and their state and local partners for their incredible work in Operation Restore Justice and have directed my prosecutors not to negotiate.”

“Every child deserves to grow up free from fear and exploitation,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “Operation Restore Justice proves that no predator is out of reach and no child will be forgotten. By leveraging the strength of all our field offices and our federal, state and local partners, we’re sending a clear message: there is no place to hide for those who prey on children. The FBI is relentless in our pursuit of those who exploit the most vulnerable among us.”

“Our top priority in Western Arkansas is making our communities safer and better,” said the United States Attorney for Western Arkansas, David Clay Fowlkes.  “This crucial mission begins with protecting those who cannot protect themselves, particularly children residing in Western Arkansas. This operation, and many others like it, are vital to helping us accomplish this important mission by concentrating our efforts on prosecuting those who engage in child abuse.  Furthermore, this operation serves as a significant demonstration of our collaborative partnerships with federal, local, and state law enforcement officers who share our unwavering commitment to pursuing these important cases.”

“This operation is a testament to the efforts of the FBI and our dedicated law enforcement partners to protect children in our communities,” said FBI Little Rock Special Agent in Charge Alicia D. Corder. “FBI Little Rock will continue to prioritize these investigations, seek justice for victims and hold predators accountable for their actions.”

Others arrested around the country are alleged to have committed various crimes including the production, distribution, and possession of child sexual abuse material, online enticement and transportation of minors, and child sex trafficking. In Minneapolis, for example, a state trooper and Army Reservist was arrested for allegedly producing child sexual abuse material while wearing his uniforms. In Norfolk, VA, an illegal alien from Mexico is accused of transporting a minor across state lines for sex. In Washington, D.C., a former Metropolitan Police Department Police Officer was arrested for allegedly trafficking minor victims.

In many cases, parental vigilance and community outreach efforts played a critical role in bringing these offenders to justice. For example, a California man was arrested about eight hours after a young victim bravely came forward and disclosed their abuse to FBI agents after an online safety presentation at a school near Albany, N.Y.

This effort follows the Department’s observance of National Child Abuse Prevention Month in April and underscores the Department’s unwavering commitment to protecting children and raising awareness about the dangers they face. While the Department, including the FBI, investigates and prosecutes these crimes every day, April serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of preventing these crimes, seeking justice for victims, and raising awareness through community education.

The Justice Department is committed to combating child sexual exploitation. These cases were brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit www.justice.gov/psc.

The Department partners with and oversees funding grants for the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), which receives and shares tips about possible child sexual exploitation received through its 24/7 hotline at 1-800-THE-LOST and on missingkids.org.

The Department urges the public to remain vigilant and report suspected exploitation of a child through the FBI’s tipline at 1-800-CALL-FBI (225-5324), tips.fbi.gov, or by calling your local FBI field office.

Other online resources:

Electronic Press Kit

Violent Crimes Against Children

How we can help you: Parents and caregivers protecting your kids

An indictment is merely an allegation. The defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

Source: US FBI

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A Tuscaloosa man has been sentenced for threatening and cyberstalking his ex-girlfriend, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona and FBI Acting Special Agent in Charge James DeLoatch.

U.S. District Court Judge Annmarie Axon sentenced Kenneth Peter Hoover, 27, to 37 months in prison. In November, Hoover pleaded guilty to interstate threatening communications and cyberstalking.

According to the plea agreement, on January 22, 2024, the FBI National Threat Operations Center received an online tip concerning a series of posts on X, formerly known as Twitter, by a user who was later identified as Hoover. In the posts, Hoover threatened to assault and kill his ex-girlfriend.  After the Tuscaloosa Police Department was notified of the posts, officers contacted the victim and secured safe housing for her. A few days later, a Tuscaloosa Police officer initiated a traffic stop on Hoover. The officer ordered Hoover to exit the vehicle, but Hoover refused to follow the officer’s orders. After several unsuccessful attempts to remove Hoover from the vehicle, additional officers responded to the scene and successfully placed Hoover into custody. The investigation determined that Hoover had used Apple iMessage, Snapchat, and Venmo to harass and intimidate the victim, sending threatening and violent messages with the intent to injure, harass, or intimidate her.

FBI Birmingham Division investigated the case along with the Tuscaloosa Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel S. McBrayer prosecuted the case. 

Source: US FBI

FAYETTEVILLE —A Florida couple, formerly of Northwest Arkansas, pleaded guilty Monday to defrauding Pandemic Relief Loan Programs. U.S. District Judge Timothy L. Brooks presided over the plea hearing, in which Fawaad Welch, age 41, and Julia Youngblood, age 41, both waived indictment and pleaded guilty to a criminal information.  Welch pled to wire fraud and Youngblood pled to misprision of a felony related to the scheme.

According to court documents and statements made in court, between May of 2020 through October of 2021, Welch and Youngblood applied for Pandemic Relief Loan Programs through their Arkansas business, Slipstream Creative, LLC, which was a Northwest Arkansas advertising and marketing company located in Fayetteville, Arkansas.

Throughout the applications, Welch provided the lenders with false statements regarding their assets and liabilities and the intended use of funds received through the SBA7(a), Economic Injury Disaster Loan and Main Street Loan Programs.  Youngblood them signed those application on behalf of the business.   According to the information filed by the Government, after receiving the loan funds, Welch then diverted large parts of the loan proceeds for the personal benefit of the couple.  For example, in the applications submitted for these loans, the couple failed to disclose material information such as tax liabilities and the fact that they were receiving loans from the other loan programs.  Also, within months of receiving $1.5 million in “working capital” Economic Injury Disaster Loan funds in October 2021, Welch transferred $1.3 million of that loan to the couple’s personal bank account.  The couple then purchased a home in Florida using $445,000 of those Government program loan funds.  

According to the plea agreement entered into by Welch, after being asked by Generations Bank officials if Welch and Youngblood take salaries and informed that “the Fed restricts changes to your salaries with the [Main Street Loan Program] and doesn’t allow distributions, Welch replied, “Yes sir we do at 10k a month so all is good there.  5k a piece.”  After receiving the $3 million in program funds, within a month Welch had transferred $950,000 in Main Street Loan Program funds out of the business and to himself. 

In the plea agreements with the Government, the couple agrees that pursuant to this scheme, they should be held accountable for more than $3.5 million but less than $9.0 million in intended loss.

Following the preparation of a presentence investigation report by the U.S. Probation Office, Welch and Youngblood will be scheduled to be sentenced at a later date. Welch faces a maximum penalty of twenty (20) years in prison, and Youngblood faces a maximum penalty of three (3) years in prison.  Both individuals will also be assessed a period of supervised release, monetary penalties, and restitution. U.S. District Judge Timothy L. Brooks will determine the couple’s sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

United States Attorney David Clay Fowlkes announced the change of plea hearings.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation, Office of Inspector General for the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, and the Special Inspector General for Pandemic Relief investigated the case.

U. S. Attorney David Clay Fowlkes and Assistant U.S. Attorney Ben Wulff are prosecuting the case for the United States.

The Fraud Section leads the Criminal Division’s prosecution of fraud schemes that exploit the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). Since the inception of the CARES Act, the Fraud Section has prosecuted over 150 defendants in more than 95 criminal cases and has seized over $75 million in cash proceeds derived from fraudulently obtained PPP funds, as well as numerous real estate properties and luxury items purchased with such proceeds. More information can be found at

Justice.gov/OPA/pr/justice-department-takes-action-against-covid-19-fraud.

Related court documents may be found on the Public Access to Electronic Records website at www.pacer.gov.